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I  clasped  the  old  man's  hand,  understanding  for  the  first  time  what  a  friend 
he  was.— Page  93. 

With  the  Swamp  Fox. 


WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX 

A  Story  of  General  Marion's 
Young  Spies. 


BY  JAMES  OTIS. 


With   Six   Page   Illustrations  by   J.  Watson   Davis. 

NEW  YORK: 
A.  L.  BURT,   PUBLISHER. 


Copyright,  1899,  by  A.  L.  BURT. 


WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 
BY  JAMES  OTIS. 


7 


"  Thank  God  I  can  lay  my  hand  on  my  heart  and  say  that, 
since  I  came  to  man's  estate,  I  have  never  intentionally  done 
wrong  to  any." 

(General  Francis  Marion's  last  words,  spoken  February  27th,  1795.) 


577541 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP.  PAGE 

I.  My  Uncle  the  Major. , 1 

II.  General  Marion 24 

III.  The  Tory  Camp 48 

IV.  SamuelLee 72 

V.  The  Ambush 96 

VI.  The  Prisoners 120 

VII.  The  Retreat 144 

VIII.  Black  Mingo  Swamp 167 

IX.  The  Battle 191 

X.  Georgetown 215 

XI.  Gabriel..  .  238 


LIST    OF     ILLUSTRATIONS. 


I  Clasped  the  Old  Man's  Hand,  Understanding  for  the 
First  Time  What  a  Friend  He  Was Frontispiece 

PAGE 

As  the  Tory  Spoke,  Percy  Leaped  Upon  Him 23 


Then  Suddenly  a  Red-coated  Tory  Rushed  Towaru  Me 
with  Upraised  Saber 49 

As  Gavin  Gathered  Up  the  Weapons,  Percy  and  I  Called 
Upon  the  Sleepers  to  Surrender 183 

In  the  Darkness  We  Four  Comrades  Were  Sent  Forward 
to  Reconnoitre. . .  .  205 


Gavin  Seized  My  Arm,  Shouting  in  My  Ear:  "  Surrender, 
Lad,  Surrender  !" 250 


With  the  Swamp  Fox. 


WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 


CHAPTER  I. 

MY   UNCLE,   THE  MAJOR. 

HE  who  sets  himself  down  to  write  of  his 
own  deeds  in  order  that  future  generations 
may  know  exactly  what  part  he  bore  in 
freeing  the  colonies  from  the  burdens  put 
upon  them  by  a  wicked  king,  must  have 
some  other  excuse,  or  reason,  than  that  of 
self-glorification. 

Some  such  idea  as  set  down  above  has 
been  in  my  mind  from  the  moment  Percy 
Sumter — meaning  my  brother — urged  that 
I  make  a  record  of  what  we  did  while  serv- 
ing under  General  Francis  Marion,  that 

ardent  patriot  and  true  soldier,  who  was 

1 


2  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

willing  to  make  of  himself  a  cripple  rather 
than  indulge  in  strong  drink. 

I  question  if  there  be  in  the  Carolinas 
any  one  who  does  not  know  full  well  the 
story  of  that  night  in  Charleston,  when, 
the  door  being  locked  upon  him  in  order 
that  he  might  be  forced  to  drink,  General 
Marion — then  only  a  colonel — leaped  from 
the  window,  thereby  dislocating  his  ankle, 
rather  than  indulge  in  a  carousal  which  to 
him  was  unseemly  and  ungentlemanly. 

This  is  but  a  lame  beginning  to  what  it 
is  intended  I  shall  tell  regarding  those 
days  when  we  two  lads,  Percy  and  myself, 
did,  as  it  has  pleased  many  to  say,  the 
work  of  men  in  the  struggle  against  foreign 
rule ;  yet  however  crude  it  may  appear  to 
those  better  versed  in  the  use  of  the  pen, 
it  is  the  best  I  can  do.  My  brother  and 
myself  went  into  General  Marion's  camp 
before  our  fourteenth  birthday,  and  since 
that  time  have  studied  the  art  of  warfare 
instead  of  letters,  which  fact  is  due  to  the 
troublous  times  rather  than  our  own  in- 


MY   UNCLE,  THE   MAJOR.  3 

clination,  for  my  desire  ever  was  ito  im- 
prove my  mind  until  I  should  be  at  least 
on  equal  terms  with  those  lads  who  were 
more  favored  as  to  country. 

First  let  me  set  down  that  of  which  we 
two — meaning  Percy  and  myself — can 
honestly  claim  without  fear  of  being  called 
boastful. 

Our  mother  was  sister  to  those  noble 
gentlemen,  John,  William,  Gavin,  James 
and  Robert  James,  who  one  and  all  devoted 
their  fortunes  and  their  lives  to  the  cause 
of  the  independence  of  the  Carolinas.  She 
married  a  Sumter,  who  died  while  yet  we 
twins  were  in  the  cradle,  and,  therefore,  we 
were  come  to  look  upon  ourselves  as  true 
members  of  the  James  family,  rather  than 
Sumters,  priding  ourselves  upon  that  which 
every  true  Carolinian  is  ready  to  declare, 
that  "he  who  rightfully  bears  the  name 
of  James  is  always  ready  for  the  foe,  the 
first  in  attack  and  the  last  in  retreat." 

I  am  coming  to  the  beginning  of  my 
story  in  a  halting,  and  what  may  seem  a 


4r  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

boastful,  fashion,  yet  to  my  mind  there  is 
no  other  way  of  telling  plainly  what  Percy 
and  I  were  so  fortunate  as  to  accomplish 
under  General  Marion,  than  that  of  explain- 
ing why  it  was  we  two  lads,  less  than  four- 
teen years  of  age,  should  have  been  given 
such  opportunities. 

Now  I  will  write  particularly  of  my 
uncle,  the  major,  in  order  that  it  may  be 
further  understood  how  we  lads  came  to 
be  known  as  scouts  in  the  service  of  the 
"  Swamp  Fox,"  and  while  so  doing  much 
which  is  already  well-known  must  be 
repeated. 

When  the  city  of  Charleston  was  captured 
by  the  British,  thousands  of  Carolinians 
who  were  true  to  the  cause  of  independence 
voluntarily  made  of  themselves  exiles,  de- 
spairing of  being  able  to  wrest  their  native 
colonies  from  the  hands  of  the  king,  and 
willing  to  assist  those  in  the  north  whose 
possibilities  seemed  bright. 

To  the  men  who  were  left  at  home,  the 
proclamation  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  offering 


MY   UNCLE,  THE   MAJOR.  5 

pardon  to  the  inhabitants  and  a  reinstate- 
ment of  all  their  rights,  seemed  most 
honest. 

When,  however,  Sir  Henry's  second  de- 
cree was  issued  early  in  August,  in  the  year 
1780,  declaring  that  we  who  accepted  "  par- 
don "  must  take  up  arms  against  those  of 
the  northern  colonies  who  were  yet  holding 
their  own  against  oppression,  the  condition 
of  affairs  seemed  suddenly  to  have  changed, 
and  the  gentlemen  of  the  Carolinas  asked 
themselves  how  these  two  proclamations 
could  bear  relationship. 

Such  question  could  only  be  answered  by 
those  high  in  authority  under  the  king,  and 
that  the  matter  might  be  made  plain,  the 
people  of  Williamsburg,  in  the  colony  of 
South  Carolina,  chose  my  uncle,  Major  John 
James,  to  represent  them  in  asking  for  an 
explanation. 

The  nearest  post  was  at  Georgetown,  and 
the  commandant  one  Captain  Ardesoif. 

To  this  officer  my  uncle  presented  himself 
with  the  question  as  to  what  might  be 


6  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

meant  by  the  demand  that  the  people  of 
South  Carolina  "  submit  themselves  to  the 
king,"  and  if,  after  having  done  so  to  the 
satisfaction  of  his  majesty,  they  would  be 
allowed  to  remain  at  their  homes. 

The  British  captain  was  one  who  looked 
upon  the  colonists  generally  as  slaves  who 
should  be  whipped  into  subjection,  rather 
than  men  who  were  able  and  willing  to 
defend  then-  lives,  and  taking  such  view  of 
the  Carolinians,  he  made  answer  much  in 
this  fashion : 

"  His  majesty  offers  you  a  free  pardon, 
of  which  you  are  undeserving,  for  you  all 
ought  to  be  hanged  ;  but  it  is  only  on  con- 
dition that  you  take  up  arms  in  his 


Had  this  redcoated  captain  known  my 
uncle  better,  he  might  have  selected  his 
words  with  greater  wisdom;  but,  unac- 
quainted with  our  family,  he  could  have 
made  no  greater  mistake,  and  proud  am  I 
to  set  down  that  which  I  know  to  be  my 
uncle's  answer : 


MY   UNCLE,  THE   MAJOR.  7 

"  Sir,  the  people  whom  I  am  come  to 
represent  will  scarcely  submit  to  such 
condition." 

Then  it  was  that  Captain  Ardesoif  flew 
into  a  passion,  giving  no  heed  to  the  pos- 
sibility that  it  might  be  dangerous  to  allow 
his  tongue  free  rein. 

"  Represent ! "  he  cried  in  a  fury.  "  You 
insolent  rebel,  if  you  dare  speak  in  such 
language  I  will  have  you  hung  up  at  the 
yard-arm,"  and  the  redcoated  captain  point- 
ed to  his  ship,  which  lay  in  the  harbor. 

I  had  never  set  myself  down  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  James  family  if  such  words  had 
been  allowed  to  pass  unnoticed,  but  those 
who  know  my  uncle  could  have  told  the 
captain  that  he  was  most  unwise  in  at- 
tempting to  force  us  into  any  agreement. 

The  king's  officer  was  armed,  and  my 
uncle,  clad  in  a  garb  such  as  is  worn  by 
us  of  Williamsburg,  carried  no  weapons. 
This  fact,  however,  had  no  weight  with 
Major  James. 

Seizing  the  chair  upon  which  he  sat  he 


8  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

rushed  upon  the  insolent  Britisher,  striking 
him  senseless  with  a  single  blow,  and  then 
making  his  escape  at  once,  for  the  king's 
soldiers  were  there  in  force,  he  mounted 
his  horse  and  fled  from  the  town. 

All  possibility  that  we  of  Williamsburg 
would  "  submit "  had  vanished,  and  within 
four  and  twenty  hours  came  the  enrol- 
ment of  that  body  of  true  gentlemen  and 
noble  soldiers  who  were  afterward  known, 
and  the  memory  of  whom  will  live  so  long 
as  the  history  of  these  colonies  are  told,  as 
"  Marion's  Brigade." 

It  was  the  major,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
who  took  command  of  these  volunteers, 
and  they  were  divided  into  four  companies, 
each  under  a  captain. 

The  first  was  led  by  William  M'Cottry  ; 
Henry  Mouzon  had  command  of  the 
second.  John  of  the  Lake— another  branch 
of  the  James  family,  and  an  uncle  to  the 
major— was  captain  of  the  third,  while 
John  McCauley  stood  at  the  head  of  the 
fourth  division. 


MY   UNCLE,  THE   MAJOR.  9 

These  gentlemen,  who  had  come  together 
within  less  than  four  and  twenty  hours 
after  my  uncle's  interview  with  the  rep- 
resentative of  his  majesty  at  Georgetown 
were  all  residents  of  the  district  of 
Williamsburg,  and  were  rendezvoused 
on  the  banks  of  Lynch's  Creek  nearby 
where  it  joins  the  Great  Pedee  Eiver  within 
less  than  two  miles  of  my  mother's  home. 

All  this  is  set  down  by  way  of  ex- 
planation, so  that  whosoever  in  the  days 
to  come  shall  read  what  I  am  so  lamely  do- 
ing, may  understand  how  it  chanced  that 
we  two  lads  played  so  important  a  part 
—for  circumstances  put  it  in  our  way  to 
do  good  work— in  the  struggle  which  finally 
freed  the  Carolinas,  as  well  as  the  other  col- 
onies of  America,  from  the  burdens  which 
the  king  put  upon  them. 

Percy  and  I  had  seen  somewhat  of  war- 
fare, or  at  least  we  believed  we  had,  and 
watched  keenly  the  movements  of  this  bri- 
gade which  my  uncle  commanded,  expect- 
ing that  such  deeds  of  valor  would  be  per- 


10  WITH  THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

formed  by  him  and  his  soldiers  as  must 
give  new  impetus  to  the  Cause  throughout 
all  the  colonies. 

Then,  to  our  great  surprise,  we  learned 
that  General  Marion  was  appointed  chief 
over  the  forces  raised  in  the  Williamsburg 
district,  and  our  hearts  were  filled  with 
disappointment  because  it  appeared  to  us 
that  thereby  had  Major  James  lost  the  op- 
portunity to  show  himself  the  valiant  and 
skillful  officer  we  believed  him  to  be. 

As  a  matter  of  course  we  had  heard 
much  regarding  this  soldier  who  leaped 
out  of  a  window  at  the  expense  of  break- 
ing his  bones,  rather  than  join  a  party  of 
gentlemen  in  their  drinking,  and  were 
burning  with  curiosity,  which  as  I  have 
said,  was  mixed  with  deep  disappointment, 
to  know  what  kind  of  an  appearance  he 
might  present. 

The  men  of  the  command  were  by  no 
means  as  captious  regarding  him  as  we 
two  nephews  of  the  man  whom  we  be- 
lieved to  be  the  rightful  commander. 


MY  UNCLE,  THE  MAJOR.  11 

Those  Carolinians  who  took  part  in  the 
defense  of  Charleston  knew  him  to  be  a 
brave  colonel,  and  expected  much  of  him 
as  a  general ;  but  we  lads  were  more  than 
disappointed  in  the  appearance  of  the 
soldier  who  had  already  made  for  himself 
a  worthy  name. 

We  saw  a  small,  swarthy  gentleman, 
walking  with  a  decided  limp,  wearing  a 
round-bodied,  crimson  jacket,  and,  perched 
upon  his  head  was  a  leathern  cap  orna- 
mented with  a  silver  crescent  on  which 
were  inscribed  the  words  "liberty  or 
death." 

While  we  were  not  disposed  to  compare 
the  king's  soldiers  with  our  own  brave  men 
to  the  disparagement  of  the  latter,  we  had 
seen  officers  from  many  countries,  and  had 
rather  more  than  a  vague  idea  of  what 
a  uniform  should  be.  Therefore  this  gro- 
tesque costume — for  I  can  call  it  by  no 
other  name — impressed  us  unfavorably, 
although  in  a  very  few  days  we  came  to 
learn  better  than  ever  before  that  some- 


12  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

thing  more  than  clothes  are  needed  to 
make  the  man. 

When  General  Marion  arrived  at  Lynch's 
Creek  on  the  12th  of  August,  the  men 
of  Williamsburg  had  a  military  organiz- 
ation numbering,  perhaps,  four  hundred, 
and  not  a  man  that  could  boast  of  a  com- 
plete equipment. 

Our  Carolinians  were  armed  with  what- 
soever weapons  they  owned,  some  carry- 
ing shot-guns  and  others  muskets, while 
M'Cottry's  company  were  provided  with 
small-bore  rifles.  Each  man  had,  perhaps, 
his  horn  filled  with  powder  ;  but  no  more 
than  that,  and,  as  I  have  heard  my  uncle 
say  time  and  time  again,  when  the  brig- 
ade first  went  into  camp  there  was  not 
of  ammunition  sufficient  to  sustain  an  en- 
gagement lasting  half  an  hour. 

The  variety  of  missiles  was  as  great  as 
that  of  weapons.  A  few  had  muskets  or 
rifle  balls  which  they  themselves  had 
molded ;  others  carried  buck-shot,  and 
some  were  provided  only  with  bird-shot. 


MY  UNCLE,  THE  MAJOR.  13 

As  for  swords,  bayonets  and  pikes,  we 
had  none,  and  the  first  order  which  Gen- 
eral Marion  issued  after  arriving  at 
Lynch's  Creek,  caused  me  to  have  a 
higher  opinion  of  him  than  I  had  at  first 
believed  would  be  possible. 

Word  was  given  that  the  force  disperse 
in  squads  of  from  five  to  a  dozen  men, 
and  set  about  sacking  the  saw  mills  in  the 
immediate  vicinity.  Nothing  was  to  be 
taken  away  from  them  save  the  saws, 
and  these  it  was  proposed  should  be  beat- 
en by  the  blacksmiths  of  the  district  into 
sabres. 

Now  in  such  work  as  this  two  lads  like 
Percy  and  myself  could  do  as  much  as  men, 
and,  without  asking  the  privilege  of  volun- 
teering, we  set  out,f  orming  an  "  independent 
command  of  two,"  as  Percy  put  it,  bound 
for  a  certain  mill  owned  by  one  Pingree, 
who  had  announced  again  and  again  that 
a  Carolinian  who  would  set  himself  in  de- 
fiance against  the  king  deserved  nothing 
better  than  hanging. 


14  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

It  was  no  brave  adventure  which  we 
started  upon,  and  yet  it  led  to  our  being 
brought  into  direct,  and  I  might  almost  say 
close,  contact  with  General  Marion  himself. 

There  was  little  need  that  we  two  lads 
should  ask  permission  from  our  mother  to 
join  in  the  work  of  saw  gathering,  for  the 
major  was  at  the  head  of  the  family  in 
good  truth,  and  whatsoever  he  might  do, 
was,  in  the  opinion  of  even  the  most  distant 
relatives,  worthy  of  being  copied. 

It  was  only  necessary  Percy  and  I  should 
announce  that  we  counted  on  aiding  the 
major  so  far  as  might  be  possible,  and  our 
mother  at  once  saw  that  we  were  provided 
with  such  amount  of  provisions  as  would 
serve  to  keep  hunger  at  bay  during  at  least 
two  days. 

Perhaps  my  uncle  might  have  objected 
to  the  plan  had  he  been  informed  of  it ;  but 
such  information  we  were  not  minded  to 
give  lest  the  venture  should  be  a  failure, 
and  we  become  a  butt  for  his  mirth. 

Therefore  it  was  we  set  out  secretly,  so 


MY  UNCLE,  THE  MAJOR.  15 

to  speak,  armed  with  the  rifles  which  dur- 
ing no  less  than  half  a  dozen  years  had 
served  us  in  all  the  turkey-hunts  and  deer- 
stalking parties  we  were  allowed  to  join. 

Because  this  venture  of  ours  was  not 
important,  save  in  what  it  led  up  to,  there 
is  no  reason  why  I  should  use  many  words 
in  the  telling  of  it.  Suffice  it  to  say  that 
after  a  tramp  of  ten  miles  or  more,  when  we 
had  crossed  the  Pedee  Eiver  at  Port's  Ferry 
and  were  at  Pingree's  Mills,  we  learned, 
greatly  to  our  surprise  and  considerably 
to  our  fear,  that  we  should  not  be  allowed 
to  dismantle  the  building. 

There  we  were  met  by  a  lad  of  our  ac- 
quaintance whose  home  was  in  Kingstree. 
Samuel  Lee  was  the  name  of  this  fellow, 
with  whom  we  had  had  little  intercourse 
because  of  his  associating  much  with  the 
king's  soldiers ;  there  had  never  been  any 
bad  blood  between  us,  but  we  held  aloof 
from  him,  and  now  I  was  less  inclined  than 
ever  to  give  him  my  confidence. 

He  was  curious  to  know  what  brought  us 


16  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

so  far  from  home,  and  on  our  part  we  won- 
dered what  had  led  him  out  of  the  district. 

Neither  Percy  nor  I  had  any  particular 
reason  to  fear  Sam  Lee ;  yet  instinctively 
we  closed  our  mouths  on  his  approach, 
which  was  at  the  very  moment  when  we 
were  about  to  wrench  the  saws  from  the 
fastenings,  and  awaited  his  speech. 

"  What  are  you  two  hunting  ? "  he  asked 
with  an  unwarranted  assumption  of 
familiarity  which  Percy  at  once  resented 
by  closing  his  mouth  closely,  while  I,  little 
dreaming  what  information  it  was  possible 
for  him  to  give,  replied  in  a  tone  intended 
to  repel  his  advances  : 

"  Any  game  which  comes  our  way  is  not 
unwelcome." 

"  Are  you  expecting  to  find  fur  or  feather 
in  Pingree's  Mill  ? " 

I  was  tempted  to  reply  roughly;  but 
without  knowing  why  it  should  be  done,  I 
put  a  curb  upon  my  tongue  and  spoke  him 
fairly,  even  against  my  inclination. 

"  When  one  has  traveled  far  under  such 


MY  UNCLE,  THE  MAJOR.  17 

a  blazing  sun  as  shines  to-day,  any  shelter 
from  the  heat  is  grateful." 

"  And  may  at  the  same  time  be  dangerous 
for  some  lads,"  he  said  in  a  tone  which 
caused  me  to  believe  it  was  within  his 
power  to  give  some  information  of  value 
to  us. 

"  Why  should  it  be  dangerous  for  some, 
and  not  for  others  ? "  I  asked. 

"  Because  all  who  live  in  the  Williams- 
burg  district  do  not  boast  of  their  relation- 
ship to  the  James  family,  great  though  it 
may  be." 

Now  was  I  certain  he  had  it  in  his  mind 
to  do  us  a  mischief,  and  was  capable  of 
carrying  it  out,  else  the  cowardly  lad-  who 
called' himself  a  Loyalist  would  never  have 
spoken  so  boldly. 

There  was  a  similar  thought  in  Percy's 
mind,  as  I  understood  from  the  meaning 
look  he  gave  me,  and  then  I  was  resolved 
to  know  all  Sam  Lee  could  tell. 

By  way  of  provoking  him  to  further 
speech  I  said  boastingly : 


18  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

"If  you  know  of  another  family  here- 
about who  have  greater  reason  to  be  proud 
of  its  members,  than  ours,  I  would  like 
much  to  hear  the  name." 

"  Those  who  are  wrapped  up  in  their  own 
conceit  fail  oftentimes  of  seeing  the  good 
which  is  in  others,  and  I  have  heard  it  said 
that  not  one  of  the  James  tribe  would  admit 
that  ever  the  king  was  higher  in  position 
than  he." 

"You  might  have  heard  it  said  with 
equal  truth  that  not  a  James,  or  a  true 
Carolinian  would  admit  that  such  a  king 
as  now  claims  the  right  to  rule  over  us, 
was  even  our  equaL"  Percy  replied  hotly, 
and  this  seditious  remark  had  the  effect 
which  I  was  hoping  to  bring  about. 

It  stirred  Sam  Lee  to  anger,  and  he 
cried  menacingly,  but  taking  good  care 
meanwhile  to  move  off  at  a  safe  dis- 
tance. 

"  Before  many  days  you  will  learn  that 
the  James  family  cannot  even  take  care 
of  themselves ! " 


MY  UNCLE,  THE   MAJOR.  19 

"  But  who  shall  teach  us  that  lesson  ? " 
Percy  asked  with  a  sneer. 

"  No  less  a  man  than  Major  Gainey  him- 
self." 

"And  how  can  he,  who  is  now  in 
Charleston,  teach  us  so  odd  and  sudden  a 
lesson  ? " 

"  The  major  is  at  Britton's  Neck  !  "  Sam 
cried  triumphantly.  "In  command  of  a 
body  of  Loyalists  so  large  that  the  people 
of  Williamsburg  will  soon  be  on  their 
knees  begging  protection  from  the  king's 
troops." 

"  He  will  need  have  more  Tories  at  his 
back  to  do  that,  than  have  ever  been  found 
in  the  Carolinas,"  Percy  cried,  now  almost 
boiling  with  rage. 

"  It  may  be  that  you  Sumter  lads,  who 
hang  to  the  skirts  of  Major  James  because 
of  the  great  deeds  he  claims  to  be  able  to 
perform,  have  yet  much  to  learn  regard- 
ing the  Loyalists  of  the  Carolinas !  What 
s;  i  y  you  to  two  thousand  well  armed-and 
well -drilled  men?" 


20  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

"  Two  thousand  ? "  Percy  repeated  with 
a  laugh  of  scorn.  "  You  know  full  well, 
Sam  Lee,  that  such  a  number  of  Tories 
cannot  be  gathered  in  these  colonies." 

"  There  is  at  this  moment,  ready  to 
march  upon  your  wonderful  General 
Marion,  near  to  that  number  of  men,  and 
before  a  week  has  passed  every  James 
around  Williamsburg  will  be  in  custody  of 
the  king's  forces." 

"  If  all  you  say  be  true,  and  I  doubt  seven- 
eighths  of  it,  why  are  you  so  far  afield  from 
those  of  your  kidney  ?  After  all  that  has 
taken  place  in  this  colony,  a  Tory  would 
do  well  to  have  a  care  over  his  steps  lest 
he  blunder  into  evil,"  and  now  it  was  that 
I  began  to  lose  control  over  my  temper. 

"It  is  you  who  are  blundering,  Bob 
Sumter,  for  I  have  but  to  raise  my  voice 
and  an  hundred  soldiers  will  answer  me." 

Percy  laughed  derisively ;  but  I  am  will- 
ing to  confess  that  there  was  something 
very  like  timorousness  in  my  heart  as  the 
Tory  lad  spoke,  for  I  knew  full  well  he  had 


MY   UNCLE,  THE   MAJOR.  21 

not  dared  say  so  much  unless  friends  were 
close  at  hand. 

Now  I  felt  positive  there  were  no  such 
number  of  Tories  under  Major  Gainey  as 
Sam  Lee  had  said,  yet  was  I  equally  certain 
there  must  be  a  strong  gathering  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  he  would  have  been  a 
dull  lad  indeed  who  could  not  realize  how 
important  it  was  that  my  uncle,  the  major, 
have  immediate  information  regarding  the 
assembly. 

Once  this  fact  had  gained  lodgment  in 
my  mind  I  was  burning  with  anxiety  to 
retrace  my  steps. 

There  was  no  longer  any  desire  in  us  to 
bring  back  a  goodly  store  of  saws  that  our 
neighbors  might  praise  us  for  having  been 
industrious. 

There  remained  only  the  question  of 
leaving  Sam  Lee  as  quickly  as  might  be, 
without  arousing  his  suspicions  as  to  where 
we  were  going. 

It  was  not  a  simple  matter,  however,  to 
give  him  the  slip. 


22  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

He  must  have  read  in  my  face  that  his 
information  disturbed  me,  and,  like  a  fool 
who  believes  that  by  multiplying  words 
he  gives  yet  further  weight  to  his  argu- 
ment, the  fellow  launched  forth  in  praises 
of  this  vast  body  of  Tories  who  were  to 
work  us  of  Williamsburg  so  much  injury. 

My  impatience  increased  until  it  seemed 
longer  possible  to  stand  there  listening 
to  what  was  little  less  than  threats,  and, 
seizing  Percy  by  the  hand  lest  in  his  anger 
he  should  leap  upon  the  braggart,  I  said 
with  so  much  of  friendliness  as  could  be 
assumed : 

"As  you  have  said,  Master  Lee,  we  are 
far  from  home,  and  it  behooves  us  to  re- 
trace our  steps  before  sunset,  more  partic- 
ularly if  there  are  so  many  traitors  to  their 
country  in  this  vicinity  as  you  would  have 
us  believe.  We  bid  you  good-day,  and  trust 
that  the  time  may  speedily  come  when  it 
will  not  be  so  simple  a  matter  to  part 
company." 

"  You  may  be  certain  that  day  is  near  at 


MY  UNCLE,  THE   MAJOR.  23 

hand,"  he  replied  in  a  menacing  tone. 
"  Before  a  week  has  passed  I  venture  to 
predict  the  king's  enemies  in  Williamsburg 
will  be  under  close  guard,  powerless  to  say 
when  they  will  go  or  come." 

As  the  Tory  spoke  Percy  wrenched  him- 
self free  from  my  grasp,  and  leaped  upon 
him. 

To  flog  such  a  coward  as  Sam  Lee  was  a 
simple  matter,  and  I  stepped  aside  lest  it 
should  afterward  be  said  that  two  of  us 
set  upon  one,  thinking  that  while  it  might 
be  imprudent  for  my  brother  to  mete  out 
the  punishment  which  was  merited,  it  was 
a  duty  which  could  not  with  honor  be 
avoided. 

Sam  shrieked  lustily,  and  before  he  had 
received  half  a  dozen  well-aimed  blows  I 
heard  a  great  trampling  in  the  underbrush ; 
then  came  into  view  two  score  or  more  of 
men  in  the  king's  uniform,  and  for  an  in- 
stant I  believed  that  the  Tory's  threat  was 
about  to  be  made  good. 


24:  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 


CHAPTER  II. 

GENEEAL  MARION. 

NOT  until  I  had  warned  him  ,was  Percy 
aware  of  the  danger  which  menaced. 

Intent  only  upon  the  task  which  he  set 
himself,  with  a  view  of  performing  it  in 
the  shortest  possible  space  of  time,  the  lad 
gave  no  heed  to  anything  else,  and  but  for 
the  fact  of  my  being  on  watch,  so  to 
speak,  I  believe  of  a  verity  he  would  have 
been  taken  prisoner. 

Even  as  it  was,  he  did  not  cease  his 
labors  until  the  Tory  crew  were  come 
within  fifty  yards  of  him,  and  then  with 
one  vigorous,  well-directed  blow  by  way 
of  parting,  Percy  took  to  his  heels. 

I  had  at  that  moment  started  toward 
him,  believing  the  lad  was  minded  to 

give  tattte  em  though  the  gdd§ 


GENERAL  MARION.  25 

twenty  to  one,  for  the  James  family  of 
Williamsburg  are  not  given  to  counting 
cost  when  the  chances  are  heavily  against 
them. 

Then,  seeing  what  was  his  inclination, 
I  wheeled  about  almost  at  the  very  instant 
when  the  Tories  sent  a  volley  of  bullets 
after  us,  and  I  do  truly  believe  there  was 
a  blush  of  shame  upon  my  cheek  that 
men  of  Carolina  should  show  themselves 
such  wretched  marksmen,  for  not  a  mis- 
sile hit  us,  although  the  range  could  not 
have  been  above  forty  yards. 

We  were  not  minded  to  run  in  the  open 
where  the  traitors  might  practise  at 
shooting,  with  us  as  targets ;  but,  bearing 
sharply  to  the  left,  we  plunged  into  the 
thicket,  where  I  felt  certain  such  as  those 
who  would  consort  with  Sam  Lee  could 
not  come  up  with  us. 

Percy,  whose  blood  had  been  warmed  by 
the  punishment  given  the  young  Tory, 
burned  with  a  desire  to  halt  and  give 
battle. 


%  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

"  It  would  be  folly  for  us  to  set  ourselves 
against  such  odds  when  no  benefit  may 
be  derived  from  the  battle,"  I  said,  speak- 
ing as  we  ran. 

"If  the  odds  are  great,  so  much  more 
thorough  the  lesson,  and  these  skulking 
traitors  surely  need  a  check  just  now, 
when  the  fortunes  of  war  seem  to  be  in 
their  favor." 

"Ay,  but  it  is  not  for  us  to  play  the 
schoolmaster  with  less  than  half  a  horn 
of  powder  and  five  bullets,"  I  replied,  check- 
ing back  the  mirth  which  came  upon  me 
when  the  dear  lad  spoke  of  making  an 
attack  almost  empty-handed  upon  the 
Tories  of  Williamsburg. 

It  was  such  a  suggestion  as  might  be 
expected  from  a  James  of  the  Carolinas, 
and  certain  it  is  Percy  would  have  halted 
with  a  smile  upon  his  face  and  a  sense 
of  deepest  satisfaction  in  his  heart,  even 
though  by  so  doing  we  brought  ourselves 
face  to  face  with  death. 

He  always  looked  upon  me  as  a  leader, 


GENERAL  MARION.  27 

however,  and  now  it  was  well  he  had  oeen 
accustomed  to  do  so,  otherwise  I  doubt  if 
we  should  ever  have  left  that  place  alive. 

"  Since  we  must  perforce  return  empty- 
handed,  for  there  are  no  other  mills  to  be 
sacked  in  this  neighborhood,  I  would  give 
much  for  the  privilege  of  showing  those 
fellows  how  to  shoot,  else  will  this  day  be 
wasted,"  he  said  after  a  pause. 

"  In  that  you  are  making  a  mistake,  lad. 
The  day  would  surely  be  spent  in  vain  if 
yonder  band  of  Tories  suffer  no  greater  loss 
of  numbers  than  we  could  inflict ;  but  by 
running  away  now  it  may  be  possible  to 
crush  out  the  whole  nest." 

"Then you  have  some  plan  in  mind?" 
he  cried  eagerly. 

"  No  more  than  this  :  After  the  reverses 
which  have  come  to  our  people  at  Charles- 
ton something  in  the  nature  of  success  is 
necessary  to  revive  the  faint-hearted,  and 
it  can  readily  be  done  if  we  carry  to  General 
Marion  word  of  what  has  been  done.  Un- 
less I  am  much  mistaken  in  our  commander, 


28  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

We  shall  soon  have  ample  opportunity  of 
showing  these  traitors  how  to  shoot." 

Now,  and  for  the  first  time,  Percy  under- 
stood what  might  be  the  result  of  this  day's 
failure,  so  far  as  we  were  concerned,  to  se- 
cure material  for  sabres. 

It  was  no  longer  necessary  for  me  to 
urge  him  to  make  greater  speed  in  the 
retreat. 

Halting  only  when  forced  to  do  so  that 
we  might  regain  breath,  and  giving  no 
thought  whatsoever  to  fatigue,  the  race 
was  ended  in  a  little  more  than  two  hours, 
when  we  stood  before  our  uncle,  the  major, 
telling  him  of  what  we  had  seen  at  Pin- 
gree's  Mill. 

"  It  is  a  fortunate  chance  for  us,  lads," 
he  said  in  a  tone  of  satisfaction.  "  Scantily 
equipped  as  this  force  is,  we  need  some- 
thing to  inflame  the  courage  of  our  men." 
"  Sam  Lee  would  have  had  us  believe 
there  were  two  thousand  Tories  nearabout, 
sir,"  I  ventured  to  suggest,  and  the  major 
looked  at  me  searchingly  for  an  instant. 


GENERAL  MARION.  2 

"  Does  the  odds  make  you  timorous,  lad  ? " 

"  Not  so,  sir.  But  that  I  believed  it  nec- 
essary General  Marion  should  know  of  the 
encampment,  Percy  and  I  would  have  given 
them  so  much  of  a  lesson  as  might  be  pos- 
sible with  five  bullets.  In  fact,  I  found  it 
somewhat  difficult  to  force  him  along  with 
me,  so  much  averse  was  he  to  running 
away." 

My  uncle's  stern,  questioning  gaze  dis- 
appeared on  the  instant,  and  gripping  both 
of  us  lads  by  the  hands,  he  said  in  a  most 
friendly  tone  : 

"  I  had  no  reason  whatsoever  to  question 
your  courage,  for  you  are  members  of  our 
family  ;  yet  for  the  merest  fraction  of  time 
it  seemed  as  if  you  might  perchance  show 
the  white  feather  when  our  enemies  were 
in  such  force.  Come  with  me  to  the  gen- 
eral, and  you  shall  see  whether  any  account 
be  taken  of  numbers,  for  now  has  the  Cause 
fallen  into  such  sore  straits  that  every  man 
who  holds  to  it  must  consider  himself  equal 
to  a  dozen  of  the  king's  minions." 


30  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

Our  origade  was  set  down,  rather  than 
encamped,  in  the  woods ;  there  were  no 
shelters  other  than  such  as  the  men  made 
for  themselves  with  pine  boughs,  and  the 
command  bore  but  little  semblance  to  a 
military  organization. 

Therefore  it  was  that  we  were  not 
troubled  to  gain  audience  with  the  com- 
mander. 

The  crimson  jacket  could  be  seen  a  long 
distance  away  under  a  huge  live-oak  tree, 
nearby  where  were  three  or  four  men  build- 
ing a  camp-fire,  and  toward  that  gleaming 
spot  of  color  we  made  our  way. 

"  I  would  introduce  to  you  two  members 
of  my  family,  sons  of  the  Widow  Sumter," 
the  major  said  as  he  saluted,  and  I  was 
surprised  at  the  change  which  passed  over 
that  serious,  almost  gloomy-looking  face 
when  a  friendly  expression  came  into  his 
eyes. 

It  was  as  if  he  had  thrown  off  the  mask, 
and  shown  us  a  countenance  almost  the  op- 
posite to  that  which  we  had  previously  seen. 


GENERAL  MARION.  31 

Nothing  more  was  needed  to  tell  me,  that 
now  ind  eed,  we  had  a  leader  who  was  worthy 
to  supersede  my  uncle. 

"  It  pleasures  me  to  meet  with  those  who 
are  akin  to  such  a  true  patriot  as  Major 
James,"  the  general  said  most  courteously, 
and  one  needs  remember  that  he  was  speak- 
ing to  two  lads,  in  order  to  understand  how 
much  such  words  meant. 

11 1  can  answer  for  it  they  will  be  true 
to  any  trust  you  may  repose  in  them,"  my 
uncle  said,  and  Percy  gripped  me  by  the 
hand  that  I  might  understand  how  well 
pleased  he  was  at  such  words 'of  praise. 
"  It  was  not  simply  to  bring  the  lads  to 
your  notice  that  I  have  thus  introduced 
them,  General ;  they  have  information  of 
greatest  importance." 

General  Marion  turned  toward  us  in- 
quiringly, and  in  as  few  words  as  might 
be  I  told  him  of  the  encounter. 

"  A  force  of  two  thousand  ? "  he  said  half 
to  himself,  and  added  as  he  looked  me  full 
in  the  eye.  "Can  you  depend  upon  the 


32  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

truthfulness  of  the  lad  who  made  the 
boast?" 

"  Indeed  we  cannot,  sir.  I  would  have 
been  inclined  to  doubt  the  entire  story, 
had  not  forty  or  more  appeared  in  response 
to  Sam  Lee's  cries  for  help." 

"  Are  you  positive  he  spoke  of  Major 
Gainey  as  being  in  command  ? " 

"  Ay,  sir  ;  I  remember  well  the  name." 

"  Are  you  lads  enlisted  with  this  force  ? " 

Instead  of  answering  the  question  I 
looked  toward  my  uncle,  and  he  replied 
without  hesitation : 

"  They  are,  General,  if  it  please  you  to 
accept  lads  as  young  as  they." 

"  It  is  the  will  and  the  courage,  rather 
than  the  age,  which  we  need,  Major  James, 
and  unless  I  have  made  a  mistake  in  read- 
ing their  faces,  these  sons  of  the  Widow 
Sumter  may  do  men's  work  in  the  task 
which  is  set  them." 

Percy  and  I  made  our  best  salute,  as  can 
well  be  fancied  and  from  that  moment 
counted  ourselves  as  being  enlisted  under 


GENERAL   MARION.  33 

that  true  general  and  valiant  soldier,  to 
whom  the  butcher  Tarleton  gave  the  name 
of  "  Swamp  Fox." 

The  general,  having  acknowledged  our 
salute,  turned  toward  my  uncle  in  such 
manner  as  gave  us  to  understand  that  he 
wished  to  speak  with  him  privately,  and 
we  withdrew  a  short  distance,  to  where 
Gavin  Witherspoon,  an  old  acquaintance, 
was  making  ready  for  the  eating  a  string 
of  fish. 

"Are  you  two  lads  come  to  see  how 
soldiers  live  ? "  the  old  man  asked  with 
that  peculiar  grin  which  had  earned  for 
him  the  name  of  the  "  big  mouthed." 

"  If  we  had,  it  would  seem  that  we  were 
come  to  the  wrong  place,"  Percy  replied 
with  a  laugh.  "  Surely  you  are  not  count- 
ing yourself  a  soldier,  Gavin  Wither- 
spoon ? v 

"  I  am  allowin'  I'll  come  as  nigh  to  it  as 
many  who  wear  the  king's  uniform.  It 
isn't  always  him  who  stands  the  stiffest 

that  ean  bring  clown  the  most  game,  an1 
3 


34  WITH  THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

there's  no  need  of  my  tellin'  two  lads  by 
the  name  of  Sumter  that  we  of  Williams- 
burg  are  not  given  to  wastin1  ammuni- 
tion." 

"  Of  that  I  am  not  so  certain,"  Percy 
retorted,  "  for  within  the  past  three  hours, 
forty,  who  might  perhaps  claim  this  dis- 
trict as  their  home,  had  fair  shot  at  us, 
and  within  fifty-yard  range,  therefore  you 
can  see  for  yourself  whether  the  ammuni- 
tion was  wasted  or  not." 

"Forty?"  Gavin  cried  excitedly,  forget- 
ting for  the  instant  his  camp  duties  at  this 
mention  of  the  enemy. 

I  was  not  minded  to  keep  the  old  man  in 
suspense,  therefore  at  once  told  him  of 
what  we  had  seen,  whereupon  he  ceased  his 
labors  as  cook  and  began  overhauling  the 
long,  smooth-bore  rifle,  in  the  use  of  which 
he  might  truly  be  called  an1  expert. 

"Are  you  going  out  single-handed  in 
search  of  them?"  Percy  asked  banter- 
ingly. 

"  Hark  you,  lads !  I  served  under  General 


GENERAL  MARION.  35 

Marion  in  75,  when  he  was  only  a  captain, 
and  know  full  well  what  manner  of  man 
he  is.  Neither  he  nor  Major  James  would 
remain  here  idle  after  such  a  story  as  you 
have  brought,  and  I  venture  to  say  this 
mess  of  fish  won't  be  needed  until  they  are 
past  cookin'." 

Gavin  Witherspoon  had  no  more  than 
spoken,  before  we  heard  the  word  passed 
from  man  to  man  around  the  encampment 
that  an  immediate  advance  was  to  be 
made. 

Now  to  the  credit  of  the  men  of  Williams- 
burg,  let  me  set  down  this  fact,  that  with- 
out the  least  show  of  hesitation,  although 
it  was  understood  the  enemy  which  we 
had  reported  far  outnumbered  us,  every 
member  of  the  brigade  set  about  his  prep- 
arations for  the  journey  with  apparently 
as  much  pleasure  as  if  bent  on  some  merry- 
making. 

We  were  not  well  supplied  with  pro- 
visions, yet  there  were  others  than  Gavin 
Witherspoon  who  left  the  food  by  the  fires, 


36  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

lest  perchance  they  should  be  among  the 
last  who  were  ready. 

I  think  no  more  than  twenty  minutes 
passed  from  the  time  of  our  arrival  until 
everything  was  in  readiness — every  man 
mounted,  except  the  commanding  officers, 
and  Percy  said  to  me  mournfully  : 

"  It  is  like  to  benefit  us  but  little,  this 
having  been  enlisted  under  General  Marion, 
for  how  may  we  keep  pace  with  the  horse- 
men ? " 

I  had  asked  myself  that  question,  and 
decided  that  on  this  expedition,  which 
rightfully  belonged  to  us  because  of  the  dis- 
covery, we  must  perforce  be  left  behind. 

"  All  appear  to  have  forgotten  us  ;  even 
Gavin  Witherspoon  no  longer  looks  our 
way,"  Percy  continued,  and  it  was  then 
that  our  uncle  called  us  by  name. 

It  can  well  be  imagined  that  we  lost  no 
time  in  obeying  the  summons,  and,  ap- 
proaching to  where  he  was  standing  in 
company  with  the  general  and  a  captain,  we 
hearci  that  which  gave  us  much  pleasure, 


GENERAL  MARION.  37 

"  Captain  Mouzon  has  generously  offered 
you  lads  a  mount.  His  spare  horses  are 
to  be  found  back  here  in  the  thicket,  under 
care  of  the  servants,"  my  uncle  said.  "  You 
will  overtake  us  as  soon  as  may  be,  and  re- 
port at  once  to  me.  The  general  has  been 
pleased  to  detail  you  for  special  duty." 

While  speaking  he  mounted  his  horse, 
the  others  doing  the  same,  and  as  Percy 
and  I  hurried  away  the  word  was  given 
for  the  command  to  advance. 

Even  at  the  expense  of  telling  over-much 
that  may  seem  like  dry  reading,  I  must 
make  especial  mention  of  the  advantage  we 
had  over  the  enemy,  in  the  way  of  horses. 

The  Carolinians  dearly  loved  a  thorough- 
bred, and  in  Williamsburg  district  every 
soldier  was  mounted  in  kingly  fashion. 

The  heavy,  lumbering  work-horses  which 
were  sold  to  the  redcoats,  were  like  snails 
compared  with  the  blooded  stock  our  people 
rode,  and  because  of  these  did  General  Mar- 
ion owe  much  of  his  success  in  the  days  to 
come,  when  we  dashed  here  and  there  over 


38  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

the  country,  striking  a  blow  at  night  twenty 
miles  or  more  away  from  where  we  had 
hurled  ourselves  upon  the  foe  in  the 
morning. 

Now  we  two  lads  knew  that  Captain 
Mouzon  had  in  his  stables  not  less  than 
thirty  beasts  which  had  no  superiors  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  therefore  were  we  pos- 
itive of  being  astride  such  as  would  carry 
us  well  in  the  advance,  however  mad  might 
be  the  pace  set. 

We  found  old  Jacob,  the  captain's  chief 
groom,  in  charge  of  four  clean-limbed,  noble 
beasts  as  ever  wore  a  saddle,  and  it  was  not 
an  easy  matter  to  persuade  him  we  had  au- 
thority to  select  such  as  we  chose,  for  he 
claimed  that  until  a  lad  had  had  much  ex- 
perience in  the  hunting  field,  he  was  not 
to  be  trusted  with  a  choice  of  mounts. 

Threats  would  have  availed  us  but  little, 
for  despite  the  old  fellow's  dark  skin,  he 
had  a  brave  heart  when  the  welfare  of  his 
stable  was  at  stake,  and  therefore  we  spoke 
him  fairly,  using  soft  words  rather  than 


GENERAL  MARION.  39 

harsh,  until,  coming  to  believe  we  were  but 
repeating  the  words  of  his  master,  he  sad- 
dled the  horses  we  had  selected. 

Bestride  such  animals  as  could  not  well 
be  excelled  in  the  Carolinas,  Percy  and  I 
set  forth  in  pursuit  of  our  friends,  confident 
that  we  would  be  able  to  give  a  good  ac- 
count of  ourselves,  although  sadly  lacking 
an  outfit. 

"  Unless  it  so  be  we  can  borrow  powder 
and  ball,  I  fear  our  share  in  the  punishment 
of  the  Tories  will  be  slight  indeed,"  my 
brother  said  mournfully,  and  I  laughed  at 
his  gloomy  face. 

"Two  hours  ago,  when  we  were  hasten- 
ing back  from  Pingree's  Mill,  you  would 

0 

have  said  that  with  steeds  like  these  we 
should  be  equipped  in  most  kingly  fashion, 
and  now  that  we  have  under  us  the  choice 
of  Captain  Mouzon's  stud,  you  find  yet 
further  necessities." 

"  I  leave  it  to  you  to  say  if  five  bullets 
and  half  a  horn  of  powder  make  any  very 
formidable  outfit  under  such  leaders  as 


40  WITH  THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

General  Marion  and  our  uncle,  the  major, 
both  of  whom  are  like  to  show  a  greediness 
for  fighting  ? " 

It  was  a  matter  which  could  not  be  rem- 
edied, this  lack  of  ammunition,  until  we 
were  come  up  with  some  acquaintance  who 
had  a  larger  store  than  he  needed,  and  such 
an  one  might  be  difficult  to  find  in  the  dis- 
trict of  Williamsburg,  for  we  who  held  to 
the  Cause  were  poor  in  everything  save 
the  desire  to  aid  our  country. 

That  exhilaration  which  comes  with  the 
stride  of  a  horse  when  one  is  in  the  saddle 
was  upon  me,  and,  for  the  time  being,  I  gave 
little  heed  to  our  necessities,  save  that  I 
remembered  with  regret  the  fish  Gavin 
Witherspoon  had  wasted. 

After  a  tramp  of  twenty  miles  Percy  and 
I  stood  in  need  of  food,  and  but  for  our 
own  foolhardiness  we  might  have  eaten 
our  fill  from  the  different  messes  which 
the  men  left  behind,  instantly  the  word  was 
given  that  the  enemy  were  in  such  position 
as  invited  attack. 


GENERAL  MARION.  41 

When  we  were  come  up  with  the  com- 
mand, Major  James  beckoned  for  us  to  join 
the  general  and  himself,  and  then  it  was 
we  learned  what  work  had  been  cut  out  for 
us. 

"  It  is  my  desire,"  General  Marion  said 
as  if  speaking  to  comrades,  "  that  you  two 
lads  seek  out  the  haunts  of  the  Tories  in 
this  vicinity,  and  do  not  let  it  be  known 
you  are  enlisted  with  us.  While  our  num- 
bers are  few,  the  blows  must  be  quick  and 
frequent,  therefore  it  is  necessary  we  have 
constantly  in  advance  searchers,  or  scouts, 
whichever  you  may  choose  to  call  them." 

"  Are  we  to  bear  no  share  in  the  fighting, 
sir  ? "  I  ventured  to  ask,  and  a  great  dis- 
appointment came  into  my  heart  that  we 
were  to  be  of  so  little  service. 

"No  more  than  absolutely  necessary. 
You  can  serve  the  Cause  to  better  purpose 
otherwise,  for  two  lads  like  yourselves  are 
less  liable  to  suspicion  when  venturing  in 
the  enemy's  country." 

"  Any  who  know  us  as  members  of  the 


42  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

James  family  will  understand  full  well 
that  we  have  no  sympathy  with  the  Tories," 
Percy  cried,  whereat  the  general  laughed 
heartily  as,  turning  to  the  major,  he 
said: 

"  The  ties  of  kinship  are  drawn  more 
closely  in  the  Carolinas  than  elsewhere  in 
all  the  world,  I  believe,  and  well  it  should 
be  so."  Then  he  added,  looking  directly  at 
me.  "  We  shall  stir  up  the  nest  which  you 
two  found,  and  perhaps  give  you  a  share 
of  the  fighting,  but  only  because  Britton's 
Neck  is,  from  this  point,  on  the  direct  road 
to  another  quarter  I  would  have  you  visit. 
You  may,  if  you  please,  join  us  in  the  first 
attack,  and  then  I  shall  expect  you  to  ride 
toward  Indian  Village,  where  I  have  reason 
to  believe  certain  enemies  under  one  Cap- 
tain Barfield  may  be  found.  You  will  gain 
so  much  of  information  as  is  possible,  and 
report  to  me  somewhere  on  the  east  bank 
of  Cedar  Creek." 

So  that  we  were  to  join  in  this  first  at- 
tack I  gave  little  thought  for  the  future, 


GENERAL  MARION.  43 

and  said  to  myself  that  if  we  proved  our 
metal  in  one  case  we  might  find  further 
opportunities. 

The  general  dismissed  us  with  a  friendly 
nod,  and  we  rode  down  the  line,  hoping  to 
find  some  friend  who  would  loan  us  powder 
and  ball. 

In  this  last  quest  we  were  so  far  suc- 
cessful as  to  obtain,  perhaps,  sufficient  for 
five  charges  more,  and  then  we  had  even 
a  larger  store  than  many  a  man  who  rode 
with  the  brigade. 

It  was  within  an  hour  of  sunset  when 
we  set  out  for  Britton's  Neck,  on  the  first 
ride  Percy  and  I  had  ever  undertaken  for 
the  Cause,  and  it  would  please  me  much 
to  repeat  all  the  incidents  of  that  night's 
journey,  for  they  are  so  deeply  impressed 
upon  my  memory  as  never  to  be  effaced 
by  whatsoever  of  adventure  may  come  to 
me  later  in  life. 

It  is  not  well  that  I  devote  so  much  space, 
however,  to  what  others  may  think  unin- 
teresting, and,  therefore,  acting  on  Percy's 


4A  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

advice,  I  shall  say  no  more  concerning 
the  journey  when  our  brigade,  only  four 
companies  strong,  rode  through  the  silent 
hours  of  the  night  at  a  slow  trot,  eager  to 
measure  strength  with  an  enemy  known 
to  be  several  times  greater  in  numbers 
than  we  could  muster. 

The  gray  light  of  the  early  dawn  was 
just  becoming  tinged  with  that  yellow  tint 
which  betokens  the  near  approach  of  the 
sun,  when  at  a  signal  from  Major  James 
we  came  to  a  halt. 

Not  until  that  moment  could  I  see  any 
signs  of  the  enemy,  and  then,  gazing  in 
the  direction  indicated  by  General  Marion's 
outstretched  hand,  I  saw  dimly  amid  the 
mist  the  outlines  of  an  encampment  so 
large,  that  for  the  moment  I  had  no  ques- 
tion but  what  Sam  Lee  told  us  only  the 
truth  when  he  said  the  force  of  Tories  to 
be  full  two  thousand. 

It  may  have  been  one  minute  or  ten  that 
we  remained  there,  horses  and  men  silent, 
and  motionless  as  statues;  so  great  was 


GENERAL  MARION.  45 

my  excitement  that  I  could  not  count  the 
passage  of  time.  Only  this  do  I  know, 
that  it  seemed  as  if  we  wasted  all  that  early 
time  of  morning  twilight  before  the  signal 
was  given. 

Then  it  was  my  uncle  raised  his  hat, 
waving  it  above  his  head  at  the  instant  he 
gave  rein  to  his  horse,  and  so  eager  were 
our  men  to  be  at  the  throats  of  the  enemy, 
that  before  the  major's  steed  had  fairly 
made  the  first  bound,  every  member  of  the 
brigade  was  riding  forward  in  mad  haste. 

The  onward  rush  of  that  body  of  horse- 
men must  have  presented  a  singular 
spectacle,  had  any  one  been  near  at  hand 
to  look  at  it  calmly. 

In  the  gray  light  four  hundred  or  more 
men  riding  at  full  speed  in  perfect  silence, 
save  for  the  thud  of  the  horses'  feet  upon 
the  sward,  and  with  them  in  their  very 
midst,  thanks  to  the  fleetness  of  Captain 
Mouzon's  steeds,  were  Percy  and  I. 

My  one  thought  was  that  to  prove  my- 
self a  worthy  follower  of  such  a  commander, 


46  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

I  must  in  this  attack  appear  the  equal  of 
any  man  in  the  ranks,  and,  having  such 
aim  in  view,  I  urged  the  willing  steed  for- 
ward. 

Percy  was  not  minded  to  be  left  behind 
when  there  was  a  chance  one  might  be 
accused  of  timorousness,  and  side  by  side 
we  rode  as  if  on  a  wager,  soon  outstrip- 
ping all  save  two  who  were  leading  the 
advance. 

These  two  were  the  major,  our  uncle,  and 
Captain  Mouzon,  owner  of  the  horses  we 
bestrode. 

We  four  were  well  up  to  the  edge  of  the 
encampment  by  the  time  I  understood  we 
were  comparatively  alone,  and  not  until 
then,  when  the  first  word  was  spoken,  did 
I  fully  realize  the  situation. 

"  The  Mouzon  stables  lead ! "  the  captain 
cried  triumphantly,  thinking  even  at  that 
moment  of  peril  more  about  his  horses  than 
himself. 

"  But  the  tribe  of  James  are  riding 
them ! "  the  major  shouted,  and  then,  as  if 


GENERAL  MARION.  47 

he  had  come  up  through  the  earth,  a  Tory 
horseman  appeared  directly  in  front  of  us. 

Two  pistols  were  discharged  almost  in 
our  very  faces — so  near  that  the  mane  of 
my  horse  was  singed  by  the  fire,  and  then 
this  particular  enemy  was  in  full  retreat. 

"  It  is  Major  Gainey ! "  our  leader  shouted 
as  he  struck  the  spurs  into  his  steed,  and 
before  one  had  time  to  realize  anything 
more  we  four  were  in  the  very  midst  of  the 
Tory  band,  while  around  us,  forming  a 
circle  of  fire,  were  the  flashes  of  burning 
powder. 


48  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 


CHAPTER  HI. 

THE     TORY     CAMP. 

IT  was  the  first  time  Percy  and  I  had 
ever  taken  part  in  a  deadly  encounter, 
and,  perchance,  had  there  been  opportun- 
ity for  us  to  consider  the  situation,  one 
or  both  might  have  shown  the  white 
feather. 

As  it  was,  however,  and  I  have  since 
noted  the  fact  on  every  similar  occasion, 
there  was  no  opportunity  for  fear ;  the  fever 
of  excitement  was  upon  us ;  the  odor  of 
burned  powder  mounted  to  one's  brain,  as 
it  were,  and  we  became  more  like  brutes 
than  human  beings. 

There  was  to  me  a  certain  sense  of  satis- 
faction in  the  danger ;  a  savage  delight  in 
shooting,  with  intent  to  kill,  at  the  enemies 
of  our  country,  and  above  all,  the  knowledge 


Then  suddenly  a  redcoated  Tory  rushed  toward  me  with  upraised 
saber.— Page  49. 

With  the  Swamp  Fox. 


THE   TORY   CAMP.  49 

that  we  were  proving  ourselves  worthy  a 
place  in  the  James  family. 

I  saw  Captain  Mouzon's  horse  fall,  and 
looked  with  a  certain  curiosity  to  see  how 
he  might  extricate  himself  from  the  weight 
of  the  animal. 

I  also  wondered  where  Sam  Lee  might 
be,  hoping  it  would  be  my  good  fortune 
to  come  upon  him.  Then  suddenly,  when 
my  musket  was  empty,  a  redcoated  Tory 
rushed  toward  me  with  upraised  saber. 

I  tried  to  ward  off  the  blow  with  my  gun, 
knowing  full  well  that  I  could  not  hope  to 
be  successful  in  such  an  encounter,  and 
then  the  man  suddenly  fell  to  the  ground 
as  if  stricken  by  a  bolt  of  lightning. 

It  was  Percy  who  had  brought  the  Tory 
down,  thus  saving  my  life,  and  I  heard  him, 
as  one  hears  from  afar  off,  cry  impa- 
tiently : 

"  My  last  charge  of  powder  is  gone  ! " 

It  is  impossible  for  me  to  say,  and  I  have 
pondered  over  the  matter  again  and  again, 
whv  it  was  that  the  scene  suddenly 


50  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

changed,  or  how  we  three — for  now  that 
Captain  Mouzon  was  on  foot  he  did  not 
count  as  one  of  our  squad — emerged  from 
that  tangle  of  men,  and  found  ourselves 
in  pursuit  of  the  fleeing,  panic-stricken 
enemy.  I  remember  clearly  that  one 
moment  it  was  as  if  we  were  entirely  sur- 
rounded, and  the  next,  all  was  clear  before 
us,  save  for  that  blotch  of  red  in  the 
distance  which  we  pursued  at  the  full 
speed  of  our  horses,  Major  James  shout- 
ing now  and  again  as  if  to  give  us  lads 
courage: 

"  If  it  so  be  that  we  ride  hard  they  cannot 
escape  us !  Spare  not  your  horses,  lads,  and 
we  shall  soon  clear  Williamsburg  district 
of  the  nest  of  vipers  that  should  have  been 
crushed  out  years  ago !  " 

I  was  near  to  smiling,  despite  the  fact 
that  this  was  a  race  in  which  human  life 
had  been  put  at  stake,  because  our  uncle 
should  suggest  that  we  might  take  any 
part  in  wiping  out  the  "  vipers,"  when  our 
last  charge  of  ammunition  was  expended, 


THE  TORY  CAMP.  51 

and  we  carried  no  other  arms  than 
muskets. 

Yet  did  we  press  on  at  his  heels  with  all 
the  speed  of  which  Captain  Mouzon's  steeds 
were  capable,  eager  to  gain  the  advance 
if  that  might  be,  lest  he  should  for  a 
single  instant  fancy  we  had  grown  faint- 
hearted. 

It  was  the  first  time  we  had  had  an  op- 
portunity of  proving  that  the  James  blood 
ran  in  our  veins,  and  had  I  been  certain 
death  awaited  me  at  the  end  of  that  mad 
chase,  I  would  have  spurred  my  horse  on 
yet  faster,  exulting  in  the  thought  that  I 
might  come  to  my  end  in  such  noble 
fashion  as  now,  when  following  the  lead  of 
Major  James ! 

Percy  shouted  like  one  who  is  without 
sense,  and  yet  there  was  no  thought  in  my 
mind  of  chiding  him,  for  I  understood  full 
well  why  it  was  that  the  sound  of  his  own 
voice  seemed  necessary — it  was  but  the 
natural  vent  of  the  excitement  that  had 
taken  hold  of  him  like  as  a  fever,  and  I 


52  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

have  since  been  told  that  I  also  cried  out 
unmeaning  words;  but  yet  was  uncon- 
scious of  having  done  so. 

Then  suddenly  the  scene  changed  again, 
and  with  this  transformation  came  into 
my  heart  what  was  very  like  fear. 

One  moment  it  was  as  if  we  had  the 
whole  of  General  Marion's  force  at  our 
heels,  and  the  next  we  were  alone,  riding 
down  into  that  mass  of  fleeing  Tories 
who  outnumbered  us  two  hundred  to  one, 
while  not  a  friend  of  the  Cause  could  be 
seen  in  the  rear. 

I  saw  Major  James  glancing  over  his 
shoulder,  and  involuntarily  I  copied  the 
movement,  although  for  thirty  seconds  or 
more  had  I  known  we  were  so  far  in  the 
advance  as  to  be  practically  cut  off  from 
our  friends. 

There  was  no  change  of  expression  in  my 
uncle's  face  when  he  realized  that  we  were 
come  into  sore  danger — for  now  we  were 
well  upon  the  heels  of  the  enemy  ; — but  he 
looked  at  me  as  if  asking  whether  the 


THE  TORY  CAMP.  53 

knowledge  of  our  situation  brought  timor- 
ousness  into  my  heart. 

I  have  ever  been  proud  because  at  that 
instant  I  answered  his  inquiring  look  with 
such  words  as  tickled  his  fancy  mightily : 

"  There  be  three  of  us,  Major,  and  more 
are  not  needed." 

It  was  the  speech  of  a  braggart,  but  yet 
under  such  circumstances  the  words  gave 
my  uncle  more  confidence  in  our  courage 
than  almost  anything  else  could  have 
done,  and  an  expression,  which  for  the 
moment  I  took  to  be  affection,  came 
over  his  face  as  he  replied  in  a  ringing 
tone: 

"  God  bless  the  sister  who  gave  to  me  such 
nephews !  "  Then,  waving  his  saber  and 
shouting  at  the  full  strength  of  his  lungs  as 
if  he  had  a  thousand  men  behind  him,  he 
cried,  "  Here  they  are,  boys !  Here  they 
are  !  Come  on ! " 

I  believe  of  a  verity  that  the  Tories 
fancied  he  was  calling  to  a  large  force, 
rather  than  to  two  lads  who  were  practi- 


54  WITH   THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

cally  weaponless,  for  their  panic  increased, 
if  that  could  be  possible,  and  they  crowded 
upon  each  other's  heels  until  the  advance 
was  impeded. 

With  fifty  well-armed  men  at  that  time 
I  venture  to  say  we  might  have  wiped  out 
Major  Gainey's  entire  force,  and  that  officer 
himself  was  nigh  to  being  taken  prisoner 
when  my  uncle,  spurring  his  horse  into  the 
very  midst  of  the  fugitives,  singled  out  the 
leader  as  if  challenging  him  to  mortal 
combat. 

Major  G-ainey,  although  he  was  a  Tory, 
had  never  been  called  a  coward ;  but  on 
this  morning  he  absolutely  refused  the 
challenge,  and  instead  of  halting  to  meet 
the  foe  as  he  would  have  done  had  his  cause 
been  just,  he  forced  aside  the  weaker  of  his 
following,  and  succeeded  in  making  good 
an  escape. 

"It  was  shame  enough  that  one  from 
Williamsburg  should  be  a  Tory,"  my  uncle 
cried,  brandishing  his  saber  in  impotent 
rage ;  "  but  that  a  Gainey  would  show  him- 


THE  TORY  CAMP.  55 

self  a  coward  as  well,  I  have  never  believed 
until  this  hour." 

It  was  strange  indeed  that  of  all  the 
enemy  we  pursued  so  hotly  and  so  closely, 
none  turned  upon  us. 

It  would  have  been  a  simple  task  for  a 
dozen  of  them,  armed  as  we  knew  they 
were,  to  have  allowed  us  to  come  into  their 
midst,  and  then,  closing,  taken  all  three 
prisoners,  or  shot  us  down  as  might  best 
have  suited  their  fancy. 

The  fever  of  fear,  however,  was  upon 
them  until  there  was  no  thought  in  the 
minds  of  any  save  of  individual  safety,  and 
during  ten  minutes  or  more  we  rode  upon 
the  heels  of  that  retreating  rabble,  taunting 
them  with  such  words  as  should  have 
turned  the  faintest-hearted  at  bay. 

There  were  seconds  during  that  chase 
when  I  trembled  with  what  was  like  unto 
a  fear,  realizing  all  which  "it  was  possible 
for  them  to  do,  and  then  that  sensation 
would  pass  away  while  rage  took  posses- 
sion of  me  because  of  my  inability  to  do 


56  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

other  than  lash  the  miserable  Tories  with 
my  tongue. 

Then  Major  James  wheeled  suddenly 
about,  for  we  had  come  to  the  edge  of  Pedee 
Swamp,  and,  by  his  gesture  rather  than 
words,  we  understood  that  it  was  our  turn 
to  retreat. 

The  Tories  were  forced,  because  of  the 
water,  to  ride  more  slowly,  and  should  we 
still  press  upon  them  they  must,  even  like 
rats,  turn  at  bay ;  when,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  the  end  would  have  come  for  us. 

"We  had  shown  them  what  a  man  could 
do  whose  cause  was  just,  and  it  would  have 
been  folly  to  continue  on  to  the  useless 
sacrifice  of  our  own  lives. 

"We  turned  about,  as  I  have  said,  in 
obedience  to  my  uncle's  signal,  and  rode  to 
the  rear  faster  than  we  came,  for  now  was 
there  fear  some  of  the  cowardly  foe  might 
shoot  us  in  the  back,  and  before  drawing 
rein  we  came  upon  General  Marion  and 
Captain  M'Cottry. 

These  two  were,  like  ourselves,   far  in 


THE  TORY   CAMP.  57 

advance,  and  by  reining  in  his  horse  the 
•  general  forced  us  to  halt. 

Now  occurred  that  which  I  shall  ever 
remember  with  the  most  intense  pride  and 
satisfaction  so  long  as  the  breath  remains 
in  my  body. 

He  who  was  to  be  afterward  so  well- 
known  as  the  "  Swamp  Fox,"  he  who  was 
the  bravest  among  all  the  brave  men  in  the 
Carolinas,  leaning  forward  in  the  saddle 
held  out  his  hands,  one  to  each  of  us  lads, 
and  said  in  a  tone  so  hearty  that  there  could 
be  no  mistaking  the  sentiment  in  his  heart : 

"  I  have  ever  believed  the  members  of 
the  James  family  to  be  true  to  their 
country,  their  friends,  and  to  themselves  ; 
but  never  before  had  I  expected  to  see  two 
boys  ride  at  their  kinsman's  call  straight 
into  what  seemed  certain  danger.  I  am 
proud  indeed  that  you  were  eager  to  seek 
service  under  my  command,  and  promise 
that  if  my  life  be  spared  you  shall  have 
fitting  opportunity  to  show  your  devotion 
to  the  Cause." 


58  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

We  lads  were  unable  to  speak  because 
of  the  pride  and  pleasure  which  filled  our 
hearts  to  overflowing ;  but  my  uncle, 
taking  off  his  hat  with  more  of  homage 
than  I  had  ever  seen  him  bestow  upon  any 
other  man,  made  reply  : 

"When  General  Marion  is  pleased  to 
speak  such  words  to  members  of  my 
family,  he  places  under  obligation  every 
one  of  us." 

"There  can  be  no  sense  of  obligation, 
Major,  when  the  praise  has  been  won  so 
handsomely." 

"  In  that  I  agree  with  you,  General,  and 
more  particularly  because  neither  of  my 
nephews  had  a  charge  of  ammunition. 
After  the  first  rush  they  followed  bravely, 
although  virtually  weaponless,  and  I  am 
happy  to  be  able  to  call  them  my  sister's 
sons.  The  ride  is  completed,  and  we  now 
await  your  orders." 

"  Have  all  the  force  escaped  ? "  the  general 
asked. 

"  Ay,  sir,  all  save  those  who  may  have 


THE  TORY  CAMP.  59 

been  rendered  unable  to  continue  the 
retreat.  They  are  in  Pedee  Swamp  where 
it  would  be  worse  than  folly  to  make  any 
attempt  at  following  them." 

The  general  wheeled  his  horse  around, 
motioning  Percy  and  I  to  ride  by  his  side, 
and  together  we  returned  to  where  the 
main  body  of  our  brigade  was  halted. 

Here  after  a  short  time  we  learned  that 
a  captain  and  nine  men  had  been  killed 
from  among  the  Tory  force,  while  our  loss 
amounted  to  only  two  wounded,  and  it 
was  safe  to  say  that  many  days  would 
elapse  before  Major  Gainey's  regiment 
could  be  got  into  fighting  shape  again. 

There  was  no  reason  why  any  of  us 
should  longer  suffer  from  hunger,  for  we 
were  in  possession  of  the  Tory  camp  where 
were  provisions  in  abundance,  and  during 
an  hour  we  feasted,  Percy  and  I,  as  only 
lads  can  who  have  been  without  food  nigh 
on  to  four  and  twenty  hours. 

Then,  when  believing  it  would  be  possible 
to  return  to  our  home  for  a  short  time — 


60  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

and  we  were  eager  to  tell  our  mother  of 
the  proud  distinction  we  had  won — word 
was  brought  by  one  of  the  troopers  that 
General  Marion  would  speak  with  us. 

I  venture  to  say  there  was  not  a  man  in 
the  brigade  who  did  not  envy  us  two  lads 
as  we  went  toward  that  portion  of  the 
thicket  where  the  commander  was  seated 
under  a  live  oak  tree  with  his  officers 
clustered  about  him,  and  I  am  also  quite 
certain  that  of  all  the  force,  we  two  had 
the  least  right  to  be  praised  or  singled  out 
for  preferment. 

Among  those  who  served  the  Cause  in 
the  Carolinas  there  were  no  cowards;  it 
appeared  much  as  if  the  timorous  ones 
turned  Tories  because,  by  professing  to 
serve  the  king,  a  colonist  is  not  required 
to  bear  so  many  hardships  or  encounter  so 
many  dangers,  as  those  who  would  throw 
off  his  majesty's  yoke.  Therefore  it  was 
that  when  an  officer  like  General  Marion 
selected  two  from  among  all  that  gather- 
ing, it  was  indeed  a  great  distinction,  and 


THE  TORY  CAMP.  61 

we  understood  by  his  sending  for  us  that 
we  were  like  to  be  called  upon  for  an  es- 
pecial service,  as  he  had  already  inti- 
mated. 

Although  unused  to  such  a  life  as  we 
had  so  suddenly  embarked  upon,  Percy 
and  I  contrived  to  salute  the  general  in 
something  approaching  military  fashion, 
and  he,  returning  it,  asked  in  the  tone  of  a 
friend  rather  than  of  one  who  commands  : 

"  Are  you  lads  minded  to  set  out  on  a 
venture  which  has  in  it  much  of  danger?" 

Percy  looked  at  me  as  if  to  say  that  I 
should  act  as  spokesman,  and  I  replied 
more  readily  than  perhaps  was  courteous, 
fearing  lest  it  might  be  fancied  we 
hesitated : 

"  Aye,  sir ;  that  we  are,  and  the  more  of 
danger  the  more  readily  do  we  set  out.  I 
say  this  last  not  in  a  boasting  manner, 
but  to  show  you,  sir,  that  we  are  right 
willing  to  lay  down  our  lives  for  the  good 
of  the  Cause  which  our  uncle  serves." 

"It  is  well  spoken,  young  sir.    I  had 


62  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

no  doubt  of  your  willingness ;  but  rather 
made  mention  of  the  danger  that  you 
might  have  an  opportunity  to  draw  back 
honorably,  if  it  so  be  you  shrank  in  any 
degree  from  the  task,  for  it  is  one  through 
which  little  honor  can  be  gained,  although 
the  service  must  be  performed." 

"We  are  ready  for  whatsoever  pleases 
you,  sir,"  I  said,  and  Percy  laid  his  hand 
in  mine  that  it  might  be  understood  he  re- 
peated the  words. 

"  Between  here  and  Dubose  Ferry — the 
precise  location  you  must  yourselves  de- 
termine— one  Captain  Barfield  lies  en- 
camped, having  under  him  a  force  not 
less  than  four  hundred  strong.  Our  pur- 
pose is  to  advance  upon  him  immediately ; 
but  having  learned  that  there  is  a  possi- 
bility his  men  may  far  exceed  ours  in  num- 
bers, it  is  necessary  we  have  full  informa- 
tion before  venturing  an  attack.  Are  you 
minded  to  seek  him  out,  and  learn  all  that 
may  be  ascertained  within  a  few  hours, 
returning  to  us  before  nightfall  ? " 


THE  TORY  CAMP.  63 

"  We  will  set  out  at  once,  sir.  Captain 
Mouzon  lent  us  horses  that  we  might  join 
in  the  march,  and  perhaps  he  will  allow 
us  to  use  them  in  this  service,"  I  said,  turn- 
ing toward  the  captain,  who  replied 
readily : 

"  That  you  may,  lads,  and  in  welcome. 
I  am  right  glad  that  the  Mouzon  stables 
can  furnish  mounts  for  such  riders  as  you 
have  shown  yourselves  to  be." 

"Then  we  will  set  out  at  once,  sir,"  I 
said  to  the  general.  "  The  horses  have  al- 
ready been  cared  for,  and  should  be  able 
to  make  the  journey  without  distress." 

"  There  is  no  time  to  be  lost.  You  your- 
selves are  to  decide  how  the  information 
we  desire  can  best  and  most  safely  be  ob- 
tained, for  it  would  be  unwise  to  hamper 
you  with  advice  or  commands.  At  about 
noon  the  brigade  will  set  out  at  a  slow 
pace  in  the  direction  of  Dubose  Ferry,  and 
I  hope  you  may  be  able  to  meet  us  sev- 
eral miles  this  side  of  the  encampment. 
We  shall  ride  so  nearly  as  may  be  in  a 


64  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

straight  line,  and  at  about  nightfall  keep 
sharp  watch  for  your  approach.  The  most 
important  information  is  as  to  the  number 
of  the  enemy ;  then  the  general  position 
of  the  camp,  and,  finally,  how  it  may  be 
best  come  upon." 

Having  said  this  the  general  saluted, 
as  did  the  officers  round  about  him,  and 
Percy  and  I,  understanding  that  we  were 
dismissed,  would  have  moved  away,  but 
that  the  major,  my  uncle,  stepped  forward, 
taking  us  each  by  the  hand. 

He  spoke  no  word;  but  I  understood 
that  he  was  bidding  us  good-by,  and  his 
manner  of  doing  it  told  me,  had  such  in- 
formation been  necessary,  how  dangerous 
was  the  mission  with  which  we  were 
charged. 

Again  the  general  and  his  officers  saluted, 
and  then  we,  turning  on  our  heels,  set 
about  making  ready  for  the  departure. 

Some  of  the  men  lounging  nearabout 
would  have  spoken  with  us ;  but  I  was  not 
minded  to  indulge  in  conversation  just  at 


THE   TORY   CAMP.  65 

that  moment,  and  it  seemed  much  as  if 
Percy  had  the  same  idea. 

Beginning  to  realize  more  fully  each 
moment  what  this  duty  on  which  we  were 
embarked  might  mean,  I  feared  lest  we 
grow  faint-hearted  because  of  the  perils. 
To  have  spoken  with  any  one  regarding 
the  service,  would  have  been  to  show  us 
more  plainly  all  that  it  meant,  and  silence 
was  safest  if  we  would  hold  our  uncle's 
good  opinion. 

The  horses  were  saddled,  and  we  about 
to  mount  when  Gavin  Witherspoon,  whom 
I  had  not  seen  since  the  attack,  came  up 
hurriedly  and  with  the  air  of  one  who  is 
in  a  fault-finding  mood. 

"  So !  We  are  much  puffed  up  with 
pride,  eh,  since  it  has  been  our  good  fortune 
to  follow  Major  James  in  pursuit  of  a  lot 
of  scurvy  Tories  ?  We  don't  care  to  speak 
with  old  friends  ? " 

"  Now  you  are  disgruntled  without  cause, 
Gavin  Witherspoon,"  Percy  said  laugh- 
ingly. "  How  may  it  be  possible  that  we 


66  WITH  THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

speak  with  old  or  new  friends  when  we 
fail  to  meet  them.  Since  you  dropped  the 
fish  so  hurriedly,  we  have  not  had  a  glimpse 
of  your  face,  and  I  question  if  you  cared  to 
meet  us  until,  perhaps,  within  an  hour." 

"  I  have  been  looking  for  you  high  and 
low  since  we  came  to  a  halt  here." 

"  Then  it  must  be  your  eyes  are  grown 
dim  with  age,"  I  said,  now  joining  my 
brother  in  his  mirth,  for  the  old  man's 
anger  was  comical  rather  than  serious. 
"We  unsaddled  our  horses  in  this  spot, 
and  have  remained  until  within  ten 
minutes  under  this  same  tree,  therefore  it 
could  not  have  been  a  difficult  matter  to 
find  us." 

"  But  there  is  no  reason  for  fault-finding, 
and  we  have  little  time  to  spend  in  con- 
versation," Percy  added. 

"  You  will  speak  with  me  though ! " 
Gavin  said,  seizing  the  bridle  of  my  horse 
as  if  fearing  I  was  about  to  ride  away. 
"  In  what  direction  are  you  two  lads 
going?" 


THE   TORY   CAMP.  67 

"  That  we  may  not  say,"  Percy  replied 
quickly.  "  It  is  enough  that  we  are  acting 
upon  General  Marion's  orders." 

"  That  is  as  I  suspected,"  Gavin  cried, 
shaking  his  fist  at  Percy  as  if  the  lad  had 
proven  himself  guilty  of  some  serious 
crime.  "  You  would  slip  away  from  the 
old  man,  believing  yourselves  so  wondrous 
brave  that  he  isn't  fit  to  join  in  any  adven- 
ture however  trifling  ? " 

"Now  you  are  talking  wildly,  Gavin 
"Witherspoon,"  I  said,  losing  my  patience, 
for,  knowing  we  had  but  little  time  at  our 
disposal,  I  was  fretted  by  what  seemed  to 
me  no  more  than  folly.  "  We  have  been 
entrusted  with  a  duty  which  must  be  per- 
formed immediately,  and  may  not  stand 
here  parleying  with  you  over  trifling 
matters." 

"It  is  my  intention  you  shall  remain 
until  I  can  have  speech  with  General 
Marion,  or  failing  him,  with  Major  James." 

"  Why  should  we  wait  for  that  ? "  Percy 
asked,  leaping  into  the  saddle,  and  as  he 


68  WITH   THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

did  so  the  old  man  seized  the  bridle  of  his 
horse  also. 

"  Because  I  am  counting  on  going  with 
you.  I  promised  your  mother  six  months 
or  more  ago  that  when  you  two  lads  were 
minded  to  turn  soldiers  I  would  keep  an 
eye  upon  you,  and  now  has  come  the  time 
when  I  must  fulfil  the  pledge,  or  write 
myself  down  a  liar." 

I  knew  enough  of  the  old  man's  char- 
acter to  understand  that  we  could  not 
browbeat  him  into  loosing  his  hold  of  the 
bridle,  and  was  not  minded  to  ride  over 
him.  Therefore  said  with  as  much  of 
patience  as  I  could  assume : 

"So  that  you  move  quickly,  we  will 
wait  until  you  can  speak  with  either  offi- 
cer you  name ;  but  remember,  Gavin,  we 
are  under  orders  to  set  off  without  delay." 

"What  have  you  in  the  way  of 
weapons  ? " 

Until  this  moment,  strange  as  it  may 
seem,  I  had  entirely  lost  sight  of  the  fact 
that  we  were  virtually  unarmed,  and  now 


THE   TORY   CAMP.  69 

I  realized  the  folly  of  setting  out  so  wholly 
unprepared. 

"  We  must  have  ammunition  if  nothing 
more,"  I  said  hurriedly,  "  and  while  you 
are  gone  in  search  of  the  general,  I  will 
set  about  procuring  it.  Therefore  the 
time  spent  in  waiting  for  you  will  not  be 
wasted." 

Gavin  Witherspoon  now  seemed  to  have 
every  confidence  that  we  would  not  slip 
away  from  him,  and  hurried  off  toward 
the  other  end  of  the  encampment,  while 
I  went  from  one  acquaintance  to  another 
in  search  of  powder  and  ball. 

In  this  quest  I  was  more  successful 
than  had  seemed  possible. 

Knowing  that  we  lads  had  been  en- 
trusted with  a  mission,  the  men  bestirred 
themselves  to  see  that  we  were  outfitted 
properly,  and  soon  our  store  of  ammuni- 
tion was  even  greater  than  could  be  used 
to  advantage. 

We  had  two  horns  full  of  powder,  thirty 
or  forty  balls,  and  a  couple  of  pistols; 


YO  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

more  than  that  would  have  hampered  our 
movements. 

Perhaps  no  more  than  ten  minutes  had 
been  spent  in  outfitting  ourselves,  and  yet 
this  time  was  sufficient  for  Gavin  to  make 
his  preparations  to  accompany  us,  as  was 
shown  when  he  rode  up  while  I  was  divid- 
ing the  ammunition  with  Percy. 

"  Is  it  really  your  purpose  to  follow  us  ? " 
I  asked  in  surprise,  for  it  had  not  seemed 
to  me  probable  the  old  man  would  be  al- 
lowed to  join  in  the  venture. 

"  I  am  not  countin'  to  follow,  lads  ;  but 
ride  side  by  side  with  you,  and  perhaps 
somewhat  in  advance.  I'm  not  thinkin1  of 
letting  you  go  on  this  mission  alone— 

"  It  may  be  safer  for  two  than  for  three," 
Percy  said  half  to  himself,  and  the  old  man, 
without  so  much  as  turning  his  head,  re- 
plied solemnly  and  in  such  a  tone  as  im- 
pressed me  strangely : 

"  There  is  nothing  whatsoever  of  safety 
in  an  attempt  to  ride  from  here  to  Dubose 
Ferry,  for  two,  or  even  a  dozen  of  those 


THE  TORY  CAMP.  71 

who  love  the  cause.  My  going  with  you 
will  neither  increase  nor  lessen  the  danger, 
because  that  is  impossible.  It  may  be, 
however,  that  I  can  give  a  word  of  advice 
which  will  prevent  your  coming  to  a  final 
end  quite  so  soon,  for  I  hold  to  it  that  Gen- 
eral Marion  and  Major  James  have  this 
day  sent  you  lads  to  what  is  little  less  than 
death." 

Having  thus  spoken,  and  in  a  manner 
well  calculated  to  disturb  even  the  stoutest 
hearted  lad,  the  old  man  wheeled  his  horse 
about  and  rode  in  the  direction  of  Dubose 
Ferry,  never  so  much  as  turning  his  head 
to  see  if  we  were  following  him. 


72  WITH  THE  SWAMP  POX. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

SAMUEL  LEE. 

HAD  Gavin  Witherspoon  been  less  strange 
in  his  manner,  I  should  have  taken  little 
heed  of  his  joining  us  in  the  mission  with 
which  we  had  been  entrusted  by  General 
Marion,  because  the  old  man  was  often 
given  to  whims,  and  this  could  well 
have  been  considered  as  simply  a  fancy 
on  his  part  to  indulge  in  the  love  for  ad- 
venture. 

If  he  had  contented  himself  with  vague 
words  concerning  the  possible  danger, 
neither  Percy  nor  I  would  have  paid  any 
particular  attention  to  him,  believing  he 
simply  magnified  the  peril  in  order  that  it 
might  appear  as  if  he  counted  on  being  able 
to  protect  us. 

His  manner,  however,  was  so  exceeding 


SAMUEL  LEE.  73 

odd — I  can  find  no  word  which  conies  nearer 
explaining  it — that  I  believed  at  once  he 
was  in  possession  of  some  knowledge  which 
we  did  not  share,  and  therefore  had  good 
reason  for  crediting  all  he  said. 

A  year  later,  perhaps,  after  I  had  had  more 
experience  in  what  some  gentlemen  are 
pleased  to  call  the  "  art  of  warfare,"  I  might 
have  held  my  peace,  trusting  in  our  ability 
to  ward  off  such  dangers  as  should  arise, 
but  then,  ignorant  as  we  were  of  a  soldier's 
life,  the  old  man's  actions  impressed  me 
disagreeably,  as  I  have  said  already,  and  I 
was  minded  to  demand  from  him  an 
explanation. 

Never  before  had  I  found  it  a  difficult 
matter  to  gain  speech  with  Gavin  Wither- 
spoon,  for  the  old  man  was  prone  to  indulge 
in  conversation  regardless  of  suitable  op- 
portunity or  place;  but  on  this  morning 
Percy  and  I  found  it  necessary  to  ride  at 
full  speed  in  order  to  come  alongside  our 
self-appointed  guardian,  and  we  were,  per- 
haps, five  miles  from  the  camp  when  I 


74  WITH  THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

finally  succeeded  in  forcing  him  to  open 
his  mouth. 

"  If  you  count  to  ride  with  us,  Master 
Witherspoon,  and  claim  that  it  is  your 
purpose  to  protect  Percy  and  I,  we  at  least 
have  the  right  to  know  why  such  an  escort 
is  considered  necessary." 

"  That  I  have  already  explained,"  the  old 
man  replied  curtly,  and  would  have  spurred 
ahead  of  us  once  more  but  that  Percy 
caught  his  bridle  rein,  as  he  said  sharply : 

"  We  are  minded,  Gavin  Witherspoon,  to 
know  the  meaning  of  your  mysterious 
words  and  odd  behavior.  If  it  so  be  you 
know  more  concerning  the  enemy  than  is 
told  among  the  men  of  our  brigade,  let  us 
hear  it  now,  that  my  brother  and  I  may 
be  in  some  degree  prepared  for  coming 
events." 

"  I  have  ridden  with  the  command,  and 
had  no  more  means  of  gaining  information 
than  others.  What  may  be  in  my  mind 
has  come  there  through  what  I  call  sound 
commonsense." 


SAMUEL  LEE.  75 

"  And  you  have  reasoned  out  that  we  are 
in  greater  danger  than  we  were  four  and 
twenty  hours  ago  ? "  I  said  with  a  laugh, 
beginning  to  feel  somewhat  of  relief  in  my 
mind  by  this  discovery,  as  I  believed,  that 
the  old  man's  fears  were  the  result  of  his 
own  imagination. 

He  must  have  read  in  the  tone  of  my 
voice  somewhat  of  that  in  my  mind,  for, 
reining  in  his  horse,  he  wheeled  around  to 
face  Percy  and  myself  as  he  replied,  speak- 
ing slowly  and  with  exceeding  earnest- 
ness : 

"  It  was  known  to  the  leaders  of  our 
brigade  that  Captain  Barfield  had  a  force 
of  Tories  nearabout  Dubose  Ferry.  Think 
you  Major  Gainey  and  his  men  did  not 
have  the  same  information  ? " 

"Of  course  they  did,"  I  replied,  won- 
dering greatly  what  the  old  man  would 
come  at. 

"  It  is  no  more  of  a  journey  from  Pedee 
Swamp  to  Dubose  Ferry,  than  from  where 
we  halted  for  breakfast." 


76  WITH  THE  SWAMP  POX. 

Again  he  paused  as  if  waiting  some 
reply  ;  but  neither  Percy  nor  I  spoke,  for 
as  yet  we  failed  to  understand  what  he  was 
trying  to  convey. 

"Major  Gainey's  force  has  lost  an  outfit, 
since  our  people  took  possession  of  it,  and 
must,  therefore,  seek  another  encampment. 
Do  you  believe  they  will  be  content  to 
remain  in  the  swamp,  knowin1  their  friends 
are  near  at  hand  ? " 

"  It  would  be  reasonable  that  they  rode 
in  the  direction  of  the  Ferry,"  Percy  said, 
an  expression  of  deepest  seriousness  chas- 
ing away  the  smile  which  had  been  upon 
his  lips. 

"  Very  well.  Since  you  allow  that,  there 
is  no  need  for  me  to  say  more .  It  is  the 
general  belief  that  Gainey  had  near  to  two 
thousand  men  with  him,  an1  think  you  they 
will  not  fight,  however  much  cowardice 
may  be  in  their  hearts,  when  next  we  ride 
upon  them  ?  If  these  two  forces  of  Tories 
come  together — and  by  this  time  I  venture 
to  say  the  men  we  routed  in  the  early  dawn 


SAMUEL  LEU  77 

have  begun  to  understand  how  few  we 
are  in  numbers — I  look  to  see  hot  work. 
Therefore  it  is  I  predict  that  before  arrivin1 
at  Dubose  Ferry  we  shall  meet  with  many 
of  those  who  so  lately  fled  before  us. " 

I  now  realized  why  the  old  man  looked 
upon  the  situation  as  being  grave  in  the 
extreme,  and  there  was  no  further  inclina- 
tion in  my  mind  to  make  sport  of  his  fore- 
bodings. 

Having  learned  what  it  might,  perhaps, 
have  been  better  we  did  not  know,  Percy 
and  I  became  quite  as  solemn  as  was 
Gavin  Witherspoon,  and  we  three  rode  on 
again  as  if  certain  some  evil  fortune  was 
about  to  overtake  us,  neither  so  much  as 
speaking  until  half  an  hour  or  more  had 
passed,  when  we  came  to  a  sudden  halt. 

Our  road  at  this  time  lay  through  the 
bottom-lands,  which  were  covered  with  a 
growth  of  scrub  oaks,  and  we  had  heard  a 
noise  as  of  horsemen  forcing  their  way 
through  the  foliage. 

This  it  was  which  had  caused  us  to  halt  so 


78  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

suddenly,  and  I  was  looking  to  my  rifle  to 
make  certain  it  was  loaded,  when  Sam  Lee 
came  into  view. 

He  was  riding  a  heavily-built  iron-gray 
horse,  the  very  animal  I  could  have  sworn 
to  seeing  during  the  brush  with  Major 
Gainey's  force.  Upon  his  face  was  an  ex- 
pression of  deepest  satisfaction  and  joy, 
which  did  not  change  materially  when  he 
saw  us. 

Percy,  quicker  than  I  at  such  times,  cried 
out  for  the  Tory  to  halt,  and  he  wisely 
obeyed  the  command,  knowing  full  well 
his  steed  would  have  no  show  in  a  race 
with  such  animals  as  we  bestrode,  even 
though  our  rifles  might  not  have  brought 
him  to  a  halt. 

"  "Well,"  he  asked,  with  an  evil  look  upon 
his  face.  "  Since  when  have  you  begun  to 
stop  peaceful  travelers  ? " 

"  We  have  not  yet  commenced,"  I  cried, 
allowing  anger  to  take  possession  of  me. 
"  In  these  times  a  Tory  cannot  lay  claim 
to  peacefulness,  and  it  is  our  purpose  to 


SAMUEL  LEE.  79 

make  such  prisoners  whenever  and  wher- 
ever we  find  them." 

"And  I  am  a  prisoner,  eh?"  he  asked, 
with  not  the  slightest  show  of  fear,  and  I 
was  surprised  thereat,  because  we  knew 
him  to  be  a  rank  coward. 

"  Throw  down  your  musket  an'  hold  up 
your  hands  while  Percy  makes  search  for 
pistols !  "  Gavin  Witherspoon  said  sternly, 
for  the  old  man  was  a  ready  comrade  in 
times  when  quick  action  became  necessary. 

Sam  Lee  obeyed  without  a  word,  and 
after  a  brief  search  we  discovered  that  he 
had  no  other  weapons  than  the  musket 
which  lay  upon  the  ground. 

Still  he  appeared  well  satisfied — even 
pleased. 

It  angered  me  yet  further,  this  show  of 
carelessness,  and  I  cried  hastily : 

"  You  were  in  no  such  happy  mood  this 
morning,  when  we  chased  your  friends  in- 
to the  swamp— when  less  than  four  hundred 
men  put  to  flight  two  thousand !  " 

Gavin    Witherspoon    turned  upon  me 


80  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

quickly,  and  with  such  a  show  of  temper 
as  caused  me  to  understand  in  an  instant 
that  I  had  thus  given  to  the  enemy  infor- 
mation concerning  the  size  of  General 
Marion's  force. 

It  was  too  late  to  recall  the  words,  un- 
fortunately, and  Sam,  giving  no  heed  to 
the  old  man's  show  of  resentment  at  my 
folly,  replied  to  the  words  which  I  had  be- 
lieved would  humiliate  him : 

"  The  condition  of  affairs  in  the  Carolinas 
have  changed  wonderfully  within  the 
past  few  days,  and  we  who  are  loyal  in- 
habitants of  the  colony  have  little  to  fear 
from  rebels." 

Now  did  I  realize  that  this  Tory  lad  was 
certain  of  his  ground,  else  he  would  not 
have  dared  to  speak  in  such  strain,  and  the 
result  was  that  I,  rather  than  our  prisoner, 
grew  disheartened. 

Gavin  Witherspoon  also  pricked  up  his 
ears  at  this  bold  speech  from  the  lad  who 
had  heretofore  been  so  cowardly  as  never 
to  venture  an  opinion  lest  he  make  trouble 


SAMUEL  LEE.  81 

for  himself,  and  the  old  man  asked  as  he 
advanced  toward  the  rascal  threateningly : 

"  What  is  it  that  has  given  you  such  a 
dose  of  courage,  you  Tory  cur  ? " 

Sam  winced,  as  if  believing  Gavin  Wither- 
spoon  was  about  to  strike  him,  and  then, 
understanding  an  instant  later  that  we 
were  not  of  his  kidney,  who  would  ill-treat 
a  prisoner,  replied  with  a  laugh  which 
aroused  all  my  anger  again  : 

"  Your  General  Gates  with  his  rag-tag 
and  bob-tail  of  an  army  has  been  cut  to 
pieces  at  Camden  by  Lord  Cornwallis ! 
"What  you  are  pleased  to  call  the  '  Cause ,' 
is  now  wiped  out  from  the  Carolinas  ! " 

We  three  sat  speechless  with  dismay, 
gazing  at  each  other  questioningly,  appre- 
hensively, as  the  young  Tory  told  a  story 
which  we  at  the  time  believed  to  be  true, 
and  afterward  came  to  learn  that  no  part 
had  been  exaggerated. 

General  Gates,  who  believed  himself  to 
to  be  more  of  a  soldier  than  was  the  fact, 

had  moved  from  Rugely's  Mills  on  the 
6 


82  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

evening  of  the  15th,  with  his  entire  force, 
never  so  much  as  sending  scouts  in  advance 
to  learn  whether  the  enemy  might  be  in  the 
vicinity.  His  raw  recruits  were  suddenly 
met  by  a  volley  from  the  British  skirm- 
ishers, and,  retreating  so  far  as  seemed 
necessary  for  safety,  lay  upon  their  arms 
until  morning. 

When  the  sun  rose  any  other  general 
than  Gates  would  have  known  he  was  de- 
feated, even  before  trying  the  issue.  His 
men,  unused  to  service,  were  formed  in  the 
swamp  with  the  reserve  only  a  few  hun- 
dred yards  in  the  rear  of  the  battle  line. 
Perhaps  not  one  out  of  ten  of  these  had 
ever  been  under  fire,  and  opposed  to  them 
were  picked  soldiers — the  best  to  be  found 
in  the  king's  regiments  stationed  at  Charles- 
ton and  Camden. 

At  sunrise  General  Gates  ordered  the 
advance  of  the  Virginia  militia,  who  were 
met  by  the  redcoats  with  such  a  deadly 
volley  that  the  division  retreated  before 
more  than  half  of  them  had  discharged 


SAMUEL  LEE.  83 

their  muskets.  The  North  Carolina  militia 
followed  the  disgraceful  example,  as  did 
also  the  cavalry,  and  a  charge  by  the 
British  horse  completed  the  rout. 

Only  the  Continentals  under  command 
of  De  Kalb  held  their  ground  until  further 
resistance  would  have  been  madness,  and 
the  battle  of  Camden  had  been  half  fought, 
and  wholly  lost. 

No  wonder  Sam  Lee  was  triumphant. 

To  us  who  heard  the  story  it  seemed  as 
if  his  boast  that  the  Cause  had  been  killed 
in  the  Carolinas  was  neither  more  nor  less 
than  the  truth,  and  for  a  moment  I  fancied 
it  our  duty  to  return  without  loss  of  time 
to  warn  General  Marion. 

Now  it  may  seem  strange  to  whosoever 
shall  read  these  lines,  that  we  believed  so 
readily  all  the  Tory  told  us ;  but  we  had 
good  cause  for  credulity. 

Old  soldiers  among  us — and  the  men  of 
my  mother's  family  had  been  in  arms  from 
the  time  the  colonists  first  began  resistance 
against  the  king's  oppression — had  again 


84  WITH   THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

and  again  argued  that  General  Gates  was 
not  a  skilful  officer,  despite  his  victory  at 
Saratoga. 

"When  it  was  known  that  General  Marion, 
who  up  to  the  time  of  taking  command  in 
the  Williamsburg  district  had  been  only  a 
colonel,  was  to  leave  the  staff  of  Gates,  our 
people  predicted  a  disaster  similar  to  what 
it  seemed  had  just  occurred. 

Therefore,  when  Sam  Lee,  liar  and 
coward  though  he  was  naturally,  gave  us 
an  account  of  the  battle  with  so  much  of 
detail  he  could  not  have  invented,  we,  un- 
fortunately, had  no  choice  but  to  believe 
the  tale. 

It  was  Gavin  Witherspoon  who  first  re- 
gained sufficient  composure  to  understand 
what  should  be  done,  and  he  soon  showed 
the  Tory  that,  however  hardly  our  people 
had  been  used,  it  would  not  avail  him 
under  the  present  circumstances. 

"  It  seems  to  me  necessary  we  keep  this 
young  cub  with  us,  however  disagreeable 
the  association  may  be,  and  do  you  lads 


SAMUEL   LEE.  85 

lash  him  on  the  saddle  in  such  fashion 
that  he  will  not  be  able  to  make  his  escape 
without  assistance." 

Although  believing  for  the  moment  that 
we  ought  to  return  immediately  to  Gen- 
eral Marion,  I  obeyed  the  old  man's  order, 
and  now  it  was  that  the  look  of  satisfac- 
tion and  exultation  began  to  vanish  from 
the  coward's  face. 

He  had  counted  on  our  so  far  losing 
heart  as  to  make  an  attempt  at  currying 
favor  with  him,  or,  at  least,  pass  him  by, 
and  our  thus  guarding  against  the  possi- 
bility of  escape  was  by  no  means  to  his 
liking. 

"  What  is  to  be  done  ? "  I  asked  when  the 
lad  was  secure,  for  I  now  realized,  as  did 
Percy,  that  Gavin  Witherspoon  should  be 
given  the  command  of  our  squad. 

"  We  shall  push  on  as  was  at  first  in- 
tended, keeping  our  wits  well  about  us, 
lest  we  be  surprised  by  others  of  this 
fellow's  kidney,  who  are  making  haste  to 
join  Barfield.  After  having  accomplished, 


86  WITH   THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

that  for  which  we  were  sent,  if  it  be  possible, 
there  will  be  time  enough  to  repeat  the 
disagreeable  story." 

I  am  making  an  overly  long  story  of 
what  should  be  told  in  fewer  words, 
prompted  to  do  so  because  of  the  fear 
which  beset  me  at  this  time  and  caused 
the  matter  to  seem  of  more  importance 
than  it  really  was. 

We  pressed  forward  two  hours  or  more, 
Percy  and  I  riding  either  side  of  the  pris- 
oner, and  Gavin  Witherspoon  keeping  in 
advance. 

Then  we  were  come,  as  nearly  as  could 
be  judged,  to  the  vicinity  of  the  Tory 
camp,  and  might  no  longer  with  safety 
use  the  horses. 

Still  acting  under  Gavin  Witherspoon's 
command,  we  picketed  our  steeds  in  the 
thicket,  leaving  them  and  the  prisoner  to 
the  charge  of  Percy,  while  the  old  man 
and  I  pressed  forward  to  reconnoiter. 

This  work  occupied  a  full  hour,  and 
the  time  was  by  no  means  wasted,  be- 


SAMUEL  LEE.  -  87 

cause  when  it  had  expired  we  were  well 
informed  as  to  the  number  of  Barfield's 
men. 

To  the  best  of  our  belief  there  were  not 
less  than  eight  hundred  Tories  fairly  well 
entrenched  at  Dubose  Ferry,  and  Gavin 
said  to  me  as  we  turned  to  retrace  our  steps : 

"  There  will  be  no  fighting  this  night,  un- 
less we  are  driven  to  it,  for  neither  General 
Marion  nor  Major  James,  however  brave 
they  may  be,  will  make  the  attack  with 
such  odds  against  us,  particularly  while  it 
is  certain  this  same  force  of  Tories  will  be 
reinforced  before  nightfall  by  those  whom 
we  drove  into  the  swamp." 

A  similar  thought  was  in  my  own  mind, 
and  therefore  I  made  no  reply. 

It  was  necessary  we  rejoin  our  friends 
before  they  should  have  come  so  far  as  to 
put  themselves  in  a  dangerous  position, 
and  Gavin  and  I  hurried  back  to  where 
we  had  left  Percy. 

We  had  no  difficulty  in  finding  the  place 
where  we  tethered  the  horses,  and  once 


88  WITH  THE   SWAMP   POX. 

there  the  cold  sweat  of  fear  broke  out  upon 
my  forehead. 

Percy,  and  prisoner,  and  the  three  horses 
which  we  had  ridden,  were  not  to  be  seen. 
But  for  the  fact  that  the  gray  steed  of  Sam 
Lee  was  feeding  close  by,  I  would  have 
said  we  had  mistaken  the  location. 

Words  are  not  sufficient  to  describe  my 
condition  of  mind  when  this  horrible 
truth  burst  upon  me.  I  could  not  so  much 
as  speak ;  but  looked  questioningly  at  the 
old  man,  who  said  slowly  and  in  a  half 
whisper,  after  gazing  carefully  around  : 

"  The  boy  has  been  captured  by  some  of 
Grainey's  cowards  who  no  doubt  are  hunting 
for  us  at  this  moment.  Sam  Lee  knew 
for  what  purpose  we  went  ahead,  and  as  a 
matter  of  course  has  given  his  Tory  friends 
all  possible  information." 

"  Why  do  we  stand  here  idly  ? "  I  cried, 
regaining  speech  when  the  horrible  fact 
had  been  put  before  me  in  words.  "  We 
cannot  desert  him,  and  at  whatsoever  cost 
must  go  in  pursuit." 


SAMUEL  LEE.  89 

"It  is  not  possible  we  could  compass 
anything  save  our  own  capture,1'  Gavin 
Witherspoon  said,  speaking  slowly,  and 
gripping  hard  both  my  hands  as  if  to  give 
me  comfort. 

"  Surely  you  will  not  turn  your  back 
upon  him,"  I  cried  in  a  fury,  trying  to 
wrench  myself  from  his  grasp  ;  "  if  that 
cowardly  thought  be  in  your  mind  you 
shall  go  alone,  for  I  had  rather  face  all 
Barfield's  force  single-handed,  than  have 
it  said  I  deserted  my  brother." 

"  Fair  and  softly,  Robert  Sumter,  fair 
and  softly.  I  am  not  minded  to  go  back. 
It  is  you  who  shall  do  that." 

"  But  I  will  not,"  and  again  I  strove  to 
release  my  hands. 

"  Listen  to  me,  lad,  and  the  sooner  the 
better  for  your  brother's  sake,  because  I 
shall  hold  you  here  by  force  until  having 
laid  the  case  squarely  before  you.  Would 
you  have  it  told  that  one  of  the  James 
family,  on  account  of  his  own  personal 
grief,  allowed  four  hundred  brave  men  to 


90  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

ride  on  to  destruction  ?  Would  you  have 
it  said  that  rather  than  desert  your  brother 
you  allowed  the  men  of  Williamsburg  to 
face  certain  capture  or  death  ?  Yet  that 
is  what  must  happen  unless  you  are  willing 
to  do  as  I  bid." 

"  But  let  me  hear  what  is  in  your  mind, 
for  until  then  how  can  I  answer  the  ques- 
tions you  ask ! "  and  now  I  was  grown 
more  tractable,  understanding  that  the  old 
man  knew  better  than  I  what  was  necessary 
both  for  the  safety  of  Percy,  and  those  who 
were  riding  behind  us. 

"  There  is  but  one  horse  here,  and  it  would 
be  unsafe  to  set  out  on  foot.  Having  had 
many  more  years  of  experience  than  you, 
I  should  be  more  capable  of  following  the 
Tories  who  have  Percy  in  their  keeping,  and 
having  come  upon  them,  if  there  be  a 
chance  for  his  rescue,  ought  to  be  able  to 
take  better  advantage  of  the  opportunity 
than  you.  Now  this  is  my  plan  :  Mount 
the  gray  horse  and  ride  back  until  you  have 
met  our  friends ;  tell  them  what  has  oc- 


SAMUEL  LEE.  01 

cnrred,  and  perchance  Major  James  will 
send  forward  ten  or  twelve  experienced 
woodsmen,  who  will  help  me  in  what  seems 
little  better  than  a  forlorn  hope.  At  all 
events,  the  gentlemen  whom  we  both  can 
trust  implicitly  will  know  the  situation, 
and  advise  what  we  may  do  with  honor. 
In  addition  to  that  you  will  be  spared  the 
pain  of  confessing  in  later  days  that  you 
did  what  a  James  should  never  do — left 
your  friends  to  ride  blindly  into  such  danger 
as  has  never  before  come  upon  men  of  the 
Carolinas." 

It  was  not  easy  to  follow  this  advice,  as 
may  well  be  imagined,  and  I  spent  fully 
five  minutes  trying  to  force  myself  to 
do  it. 

It  seemed  as  if  by  going  back  when  Percy 
had  been  forced  to  go  forward,  I  was  desert- 
ing him,  and  yet  such  seeming  desertion 
was  necessary  to  save,  perhaps,  the  entire 
Williamsburg  district. 

"  You  will  return  as  a  brave  lad  should/ 
the  old  man  said  finally,  and,  my  heart 


92  WITH  THE  SWAMP   FOX. 

well-nigh  bursting  with  grief,  I  made  reply 
by  mounting  the  gray  horse. 

Not  until  then  did  I  realize  how  much 
Gavin  Witherspoon  had  taken  upon  him- 
self. 

The  old  man  was  voluntarily  remaining 
behind  on  foot,  surrounded  by  enemies,  in 
the  vain  hope  that  he  might  by  some  for- 
tunate accident  rescue  Percy,  and  I  knew 
full  well  that  the  chances  were  as  one  in  a 
thousand  that  it  could  not  be  done. 

In  other  words,  he  was  doing  little  less 
than  delivering  himself  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy  and  I — I  was  deserting  him  as 
well  as  my  brother. 

"  I  can't  do  it,  Gavin,"  I  said,  making  as 
if  to  dismount.  "It  is  better  you  ride 
back." 

"  No,  lad.  Having  once  come  to  a  brave 
decision,  hold  steadfast,  and  forget  all  else 
save  that  the  Cause  demands  the  sacrifice, 
perchance  of  your  life,  and  certainly  of 
your  feelings.  Push  the  horse  at  his  best 
pace,  which  will  be  a  sorry  one  at  the  most, 


SAMUEL  LEE.  93 

and  before  many  hours  have  passed  we 
may  grasp  hands  again ;  but  I  solemnly 
swear  not  to  desert  Percy  whatever  may 
come  upon  me." 

I  clasped  the  old  man's  hand,  understand- 
ing for  the  first  time  in  my  life  what  a 
friend  he  was.  Then,  not  daring  to  so 
much  as  speak,  I  set  the  spurs  deep  into 
the  gray,  and  he  bounded  forward  with 
more  of  life  than  I  had  expected  it  would 
be  possible  for  him  to  show. 

The  wonder  of  it  all  to  me  is  now,  while 
I  am  writing  it  down  after  so  many  months 
have  passed,  that  I  was  not  captured  before 
having  traversed  a  mile  on  the  backward 
journey,  for  I  saw  nothing,  heeded  nothing, 
thought  of  nothing  save  Percy  and  the 
brave  old  man  who  was  following  on  his 
trail. 

Heedless  alike  of  friend  or  foe  I  rode  as 
if  in  all  the  district  of  Williamsburg  there 
was  not  an  enemy,  and  the  good  God 
allowed  me  to  pass  through  that  Tory  in- 
fested district  in  safety. 


94  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

It  was  no  more  than  two  hours  past 
noon  when  I  came  upon  the  advance  guard 
of  our  brigade,  and  five  minutes  later  stood 
before  my  uncle  and  General  Marion, 
shaking  like  one  in  an  ague  fit. 

Those  brave  soldiers  needed  not  to  be 
told  that  some  disaster  had  befallen  us. 
The  fact,  although  not  the  story,  was  im- 
printed plainly  on  my  face,  and  Major 
James  dismounted  that  he  might  fling  his 
arm  around  my  shoulders,  as  he  asked 
softly  and  tenderly  : 

"  How  far  beyond  here  did  you  leave 
Percy  and  Gavin  Witherspoon  ? " 

"Within  three  miles  of  Dubose  Ferry, 
so  nearly  as  I  can  say." 

"Were  you  come  upon  Barfield's  force 
before  this  thing  happened  ? " 

Then  it  was  that  I  found  my  tongue, 
and  told  him  all  the  sad  story,  taking  good 
care  however,  that  both  he  and  the  general 
understood  full  well  the  strength  of  the 
enemy  as  we  had  found  them. 

"  We  will  fall  upon  them  as  soon  as  may 


SAMUEL  LEE.  95 

be,"  the  general  cried,  and  beckoning  to 
Captain  Mouzon  he  would  have  given  some 
order  but  that  I  said  hurriedly,  forgetting 
my  manners,  as  well  I  might,  after  all  that 
had  happened : 

"  Gavin  Witherspoon  declared  that  Major 
Gainey's  men  would  join  Barfield's  force, 
and  should  the  Williamsburg  brigade  ad- 
vance, it  would  be  only  to  their  capture  or 
death." 

"Death  is  what  every  soldier  must  ex- 
pect, and  peradventure  it  be  delayed  until 
the  end  comes  peacefully,  then  is  he  less 
fortunate,  perhaps,  than  his  fellow.  We 
will  ride  on,  gentlemen,  and  attack  Barfield 
as  soon  as  we  can  come  upon  him." 


96  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

THE  AMBUSH. 

HAD  the  men  composing  the  brigade  all 
been  akin  to  me  they  could  not  have  shown 
greater  kindness,  nor  done  more  to  soothe 
my  grief,  than  they  did  during  the  brief 
time  before  the  march  toward  the  Tory 
encampment  was  really  commenced. 

One  found  immediately  a  better  steed  ; 
another  brought  assurances  from  Captain 
Mouzon  that  I  was  not  to  think  for  a  single 
instant  of  the  loss  of  his  horses,  since  it 
was  only  the  fortunes  of  war,  which  must 
be  expected.  A  third  would  have  pressed 
food  upon  me  ;  but  I  could  not  have  swal- 
lowed a  single  morsel  unless,  perchance, 
life  itself  might  have  depended  upon  the 
act. 

My  uncle,  Major  James,  said  very  little 


THE   AMBUSH.  97 

after  hearing  the  story  we  had  gotten  from 
Sam  Lee. 

At  first  I  attributed  his  silence  to  the  ap- 
prehensions which  had  come  upon  him 
with  the  knowledge  that  General  Gates 
had  been  overwhelmed ;  but  later  I  had 
good  reason  to  believe  it  arose  solely  from 
anxiety  concerning  my  brother. 

"  You  shall  ride  by  my  side,  lad,  until 
we  have  settled  this  affair,  and  when  it  is 
done  neither  you  nor  I  will  have  cause  to 
reproach  ourselves  for  not  having  ventured 
enough." 

Such  a  promise  from  such  a  man  was 
sufficient  to  tell  me  that  while  he  and  I  re- 
mained alive,  we  would  struggle  as  men  do 
who  have  no  fear  of  death,  until  the  dear  lad 
was  rescued,  or  we  borne  down  by  press  of 
numbers. 

At  this  day  it  seems  singular  to  me  that 
I  heard  no  one  speak  of  the  great  disaster 
which  had  come  upon  the  colonists  at 
Camden. 

I  can  only  explain  it  by  the  supposition 
7 


98  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

that  each  man  saw  in  the  adventure  be- 
fore us  an  opportunity  to  do  somewhat  by 
way  of  retaliation,  and  set  all  his  thoughts 
on  that  purpose. 

We  were  halted,  after  my  rejoining  the 
brigade,  twenty  minutes  or  more,  and  then 
the  word  to  advance  was  given ;  but  not 
in  such  fashion  as  I  had  supposed  from 
what  General  Marion  said,  on  his  learning 
of  the  disaster  which  had  come  upon 
Percy. 

My  idea  was,  and  in  my  ignorance  I  saw 
no  other  method  of  procedure,  that  the  little 
troop  would  ride  into  Barfield's  Tories  even 
as  they  had  among  those  commanded  by 
Major  Gainey,  and  that  we  should  profit 
by  the  surprise. 

This  could  not  be  done,  as  I  afterward 
came  to  realize. 

The  capture  of  Percy,  and  what  Sam  Lee 
could  tell,  would  be  sufficient  to  prevent  us 
from  coming  upon  them  unexpectedly. 

When  the  Tory  lad  should  inform  the 
commander  that  two  of  Major  James' 


THE  AMBUSH.  99 

nephews  were  in  that  vicinity,  it  would  be 
immediately  known  that  our  uncle,  with 
a  goodly  following,  was  somewhere  near- 
about. 

The  Tories  would  be  prepared,  and  those 
who  had  suffered  defeat  that  morning  must 
have,  by  this  time,  a  very  good  idea  of  our 
strength. 

General  Marion,  as  I  afterward  came  to 
know  full  well,  was  not  the  man  to  neglect 
any  precaution,  and  while  he  counted  on 
making  an  attack  despite  the  difference  in 
numbers,  it  was  his  intention  to  do  so  in 
such  manner  as  would  come  nearest  to 
guaranteeing  success. 

Fifty  of  the  best  mounted  men  were 
detached  and  sent  straight  toward  Dubose 
Ferry,  while  the  remainder  of  the  brigade 
rode  off  at  right  angles,  in  such  direction 
as  would  bring  us  to  the  timber  lands 
eastward  of  the  road  leading  to  Indian 
Village. 

It  was  this  last  portion  of  the  force  which 
my  uncle  and  I  accompanied,  and  I,  sur- 


100  WITH  THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

prised  that  a  part  of  the  brigade  rode  at  full 
speed,  while  we  loitered,  as  it  were,  asked 
the  reason. 

"  Those  in  advance  are  mounted  in  such 
fashion  that  they  may  easily  outrun  the 
enemy,  and  it  is  the  plan  that  they  appear 
before  Barfield's  force  as  if  intending 
to  make  an  attack,"  my  uncle  replied. 
"  After  thus  showing  themselves  the 
squad  will  beat  a  retreat,  causing  it  to 
appear  as  if  they  were  surprised  by  seeing 
so  large  a  force.  Then,  unless  the  Tories 
are  quicker  witted  than  I  give  them  credit 
for  being,  a  goodly  portion  of  the  band  will 
be  led  into  ambush. " 

It  was  the  Indian's  favorite  method  of 
warfare,  and,  cruel  though  I  had  ever  con- 
sidered it,  at  this  moment  it  gave  me  most 
intense  pleasure. 

I  had  said  to  myself  that  we  could  hope 
to  do  little  less  than  die  in  the  vain  attempt 
to  rescue  Percy;  but  now  it  seemed  as  if, 
should  our  lives  be  demanded  as  a  sacrifice, 
we  might  sell  them  dearly. 


THE   AMBUSH.  101 

Well,  all  went  as  our  commander  had 
counted  upon. 

We  hid  ourselves  in  the  thicket  either 
side  the  road,  three  hundred  and  fifty 
horsemen,  with  not  a  man  dismounted,  for 
we  counted  upon  riding  the  Tories  down 
when  they  should  retreat  after  the  first 
volley  had  warned  them  that  they  had  been 
led  into  a  trap. 

There  we  waited  upwards  of  an  hour,  no 
man  venturing  to  so  much  as  speak,  and 
each  looking  well  after  his  steed  lest  one 
of  the  animals  whinny  at  the  supreme 
moment,  thus  giving  the  enemy  a  clew, 
before  they  were  fairly  within  our  grasp, 
of  what  awaited  them. 

During  that  hour  I  resolutely  kept  my 
thoughts  on  trifles,  such  as  caring  for  the 
animal  I  bestrode,  making  certain  I  was  in 
such  position  that  it  would  be  possible  to  get 
out  of  the  wood  with  the  least  possible  delay 
when  the  enemy  was  thrown  into  confusion, 
and  by  these  and  other  means  prevented 
myself  from  dwelling  upon  Percy's  fate. 


102  WITH  THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

Then  came  that  sound  for  which  we  had 
waited — the  thunder  of  horses'  feet  upon 
the  beaten  road. 

We  heard  cries  of  fear,  which  were  ut- 
tered by  our  decoys  to  entice  the  Tories  into 
yet  hotter  pursuit,  and  far  in  the  distance 
could  be  distinguished  the  crack  of  rifles 
and  the  rattle  of  muskets. 

At  that  time,  with  the  blood  literally 
boiling  in  my  veins  and  my  heart  beating 
like  the  blows  of  a  hammer,  I  never  stopped 
to  question  how  many  of  ours  might  be 
killed  in  this  attempt  to  deal  out  punish- 
ment to  the  enemies  of  the  colonies  ;  but 
realized  only  that  now  was  come  the 
moment  when  I  could  strike  a  blow  in 
defense  of  my  brother. 

Nearer  and  nearer  came  the  horsemen, 
until  through  the  trees  we  saw  the  Wil- 
liamsburg  men  riding  madly  down,  not  a 
saddle  emptied,  and  before  one  could  count 
twenty  the  advance  of  the  Tories  came 
in  sight. 

A  whispered  word  went  around  among 


THE  AMBUSH.  103 

us  to  "  hold  ready,"  although  every  man 
was  on  the  alert,  and  when  the  road  in 
front  of  us  appeared  to  be  one  dense  mass 
of  horses,  and  men  wearing  red  uniforms, 
my  uncle  gave  the  signal  for  which  we 
waited : 

"  Fire,  boys,  and  at  them  ! " 

From  each  side  the  road  rang  out  reports 
of  rifles  which  had  been  leveled  in  deadly 
aim,  for  at  such  short  range  each  could  pick 
his  man  and  make  certain  of  bringing  him 
down. 

Instantly  the  ranks  were  broken ;  the 
redcoated  horsemen  reined  in  their  steeds 
as  the  squad  they  had  been  pursuing  halted 
and  fired  their  volley,  and  then  came  a 
scramble  and  retreat  when  we  dashed 
among  them. 

Twice  I  loaded  and  discharged  my  rifle, 
and  then  it  seemed  to  me  as  if  such  work 
was  all  too  slow. 

Using  the  weapon  as  a  club,  I  rode  by 
my  uncle's  side  into  the  very  midst  of  that 
scrambling,  terrified  mass  of  human  beings. 


104:  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

and  cried  aloud  with  savage  joy  when 
I  struck  one  of  the  frightened  villains 
down. 

As  was  afterward  learned,  there  were 
no  less  than  one  thousand  men  who  had 
set  out  in  pursuit  of  our  decoys,  and  yet 
after  our  first  attack  not  one  of  them 
remained  to  hold  us  in  check. 

Had  they  been  only  so  many  sheep,  we 
could  not  have  found  them  easier  prey. 

The  major,  my  uncle,  had  said  I  should 
ride  by  his  side,  and  so  I  did,  down  the 
road  at  the  heels  of  the  Tory  scoundrels, 
ever  as  we  had  done  the  night  previous. 
Then  on,  and  on,  striking  down  a  foe  here 
and  there  until  we  were  come,  nearly  the 
whole  brigade,  into  that  encampment 
which  Gavin  Witherspoon  and  I  had  looked 
upon,  believing  it  could  not  be  taken  by 
such  a  force  as  ours. 

Out  of  all  those  scoundrels  who  had  so 
lately  held  the  place,  believing  that  those 
true  to  the  Cause  had  been  virtually 
crushed  by  the  defeat  of  General  Gates, 


THE  AMBUSH.  105 

only  two  men  came  forth  to  meet  us,  and 
those  two,  my  brother  and  Gavin  Wither- 
spoon. 

Is  there  any  need  I  should  say  how  warm 
was  the  greeting  between  us  two  lads  when 
I  threw  myself  from  the  horse  and  clasped 
to  my  heart  the  dear  boy  whom  I  had 
thought  never  to  see  again  in  this  life  ? 

It  needed  no  more  than  an  hundred 
words  for  him  to  tell  his  story. 

While  he  remained  in  the  thicket  guard- 
ing Sam  Lee  a  body  of  men.  who  had  lately 
served  under  Major  Gainey,  came  upon 
them  by  chance,  and,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
he  was  at  once  taken  prisoner,  Sam  Lee 
immediately  telling  the  story  of  his  own 
capture. 

Then  it  was  the  Tory  Sam  who  became 
the  jailer,  and  Percy  the  prisoner. 

My  brother  was  conducted  to  Barfield's 
camp,  and  there  kept  under  guard  of  Sam, 
who  did  all  that  lay  in  his  power,  save  by 
way  of  personal  violence,  to  pay  off  old 
scores. 


106  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

Gavin  Witherspoon,  wily  as  an  Indian, 
had  crept  up  to  the  very  edge  of  the  en- 
campment, and  was  lying  there  in  the 
vain  hope  that  some  opportunity  would 
come  for  the  rescue,  when  our  force,  sent 
as  a  decoy,  appeared. 

An  hundred  or  more  men  were  left  to 
guard  the  encampment,  and  Gavin  hoped 
the  moment  had  come  when  he  might  be 
of  service  to  the  lad. 

Believing  that  the  Tories  would  be  vic- 
torious in  the  chase,  because  of  superior 
numbers,  he  ventured  too  near  Percy,  and 
was  himself  captured. 

An  hour  later  the  first  of  the  terrified 
fugitives  burst  into  the  encampment,  rid- 
ing straight  through  it  in  their  wild  terror, 
thus  causing  a  panic  among  the  guard 
who  might  even  then,  because  of  their 
intrenched  position,  have  held  us  in  check. 

In  a  twinkling  Percy  and  Gavin,  were 
free ;  but  in  imminent  danger  of  being 
ridden  down  by  the  panic-stricken. 

Crouching  behind  trees,  or  at  the  stronger 


THE   AMBUSH.  107 

portions  of  the  intrenchments,  they  awaited 
our  coming,  and  when  we  rode  into  camp 
came  forth  to  greet  us  as  I  have  said. 

Our  force  remained  in  the  captured 
quarters  until  next  morning,  and  during 
the  evening  Gavin  Witherspoon,  Percy  and 
myself  had  much  to  talk  about. 

My  brother  and  I  were  come  by  this  time 
to  look  upon  the  old  man  as  a  comrade, 
and  well  we  might,  after  the  friend  he  had 
proven  himself  to  be. 

While  we  talked  only  concerning  our- 
selves, and  looked  after  our  own  welfare, 
General  Marion  and  the  officers  of  the 
command  spent  the  time  discussing  how 
it  might  be  possible  for  so  small  a  force  to 
uphold  the  cause  in  the  Carolinas,  for  since 
the  defeat  of  Gates  ours  was  the  only 
body  of  men  in  the  colony  to  oppose  the 
foe. 

It  was  as  if  the  king's  troops  had  indeed 
crushed  what  they  were  pleased  to  term 
"  rebellion,"  and  more  than  one  man  in  the 
brigade  whose  fidelity  to  the  Cause  could 


108  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

not  be  questioned,  asked  his  comrade  if  it 
were  wise  to  longer  remain  in  arms  when 
we  were  virtually  whipped. 

The  outlook  was  gloomy  indeed  for  those 
who  had  hoped  to  be  freed  from  the  burdens 
the  king  had  put  upon  them  ;  but,  fortu- 
nately for  the  Cause,  General  Marion  and 
Major  James  were  not  the  men  to  give  in 
beaten  so  long  as  life  remained. 

Even  while  some  among  us  were  making 
ready  to  say  openly  that  the  time  had  come 
when  we  must  submit,  those  two  gallant 
gentlemen  were  planning  for  the  future— 
planning  as  to  how  four  hundred  or  less 
might  best  oppose  ten  times  their  number 
of  trained  soldiers. 

Gavin  Witherspoon,  Percy  and  myself, 
while  listening  to  the  faint-hearted  ones  or 
discussing  the  situation  between  ourselves, 
hoped  that  the  general  would  call  upon  us 
for  some  especial  mission,  even  as  he  had 
when  we  were  sent  to  spy  out  Barfield's 
camp ;  but  the  time  was  not  come  when 
we  were  needed  for  a  venture  of  any 


THE  AMBUSH.  109 

moment,   as  we  learned  an  hour  before 
daybreak  next  morning. 

Then  the  men  were  aroused  with  orders 
to  breakfast  from  the  Tories1  provisions  as 
hurriedly  as  might  be,  and  make  ready  for 
the  forced  march. 

Among  those  with  whom  I  talked,  when 
in  the  gray  light  we  made  our  preparations 
for  the  march,  not  a  man  believed  there 
was  the  slightest  question  we  should  con- 
tinue upon  the  offensive. 

All  understood  that  we  could  not  in 
safety  remain  much  longer  in  the  Tory 
camp,  for  unless  those  whom  we  had  routed 
were  greater  cowards  than  was  generally 
believed,  they  would  soon  recover  from  the 
panic  into  which  we  had  driven  them,  and 
return  to  make  an  attack. 

Therefore  it  was  that  we  set  out  believing 
the  move  was  made  simply  for  the  purpose 
of  changing  quarters,  and  when  orders 
were  given  that  each  man  take  from  the 
Tory  stores  so  much  of  provisions  for  him- 
self, or  provender  for  his  horse  as  could  be 


110  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

carried  conveniently  behind  him,  we  fan- 
cied it  was  the  general's  purpose  to  so  out- 
fit the  brigade  that  it  might  lay  in  hiding 
two  or  three  days  without  being  forced  to 
venture  forth  in  search  of  food. 

Before  noon  came,  however,  all  under- 
stood that  some  maneuver  was  in  progress. 

Instead  of  riding  rapidly,  as  would  have 
been  the  case  had  we  counted  on  simply 
exchanging  one  encampment  for  another, 
we  went  forward  at  a  leisurely  pace,  mak- 
ing no  halt  until  the  sun  was  high  in  the 
heavens,  when  we  were  come  to  the  ford 
on  Black  River,  half  a  dozen  miles  or  more 
south  of  Kingstree. 

Then  the  men  and  horses  were  allowed 
a  rest  of  an  hour,  after  which  we  bore 
nearly  due  west  until  we  struck  the  road 
leading  from  Georgetown  to  Nelson's 
Ferry,  and  the  word  was  whispered  from 
man  to  man  that  the  commander  had  it  in 
mind  to  strike  yet  another  blow  at  the 
red-coated  enemy  before  we  laid  down  our 
arms. 


THE   AMBUSH.  Ill 

It  is  well  known,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
that  the  "  war-path"  from  Charleston  to 
Camden  crosses  Santee  River  at  Nelson's 
Ferry,  and  here,  above  all  other  places, 
would  one  who  was  eager  for  fighting  be 
likely  to  get  his  fill. 

More  than  once  during  the  day  had  we 
learned  from  planters,  who  were  true  to  the 
Cause,  additional  particulars  concerning 
the  blunder  of  General  Gates,  and  before 
nightfall  we  understood  beyond  a  perad- 
venture  that  the  story  told  by  Sam  Lee  was 
only  untrue  in  so  far  as  it  did  not  contain 
all  the  disasters  which  had  befallen  the 
American  arms. 

Now  we  knew  how  many  prisoners  had 
been  taken,  and,  what  was  more  to  the 
purpose,  learned  that  our  unfortunate 
countrymen  were  being  sent  as  rapidly  as 
possible  from  the  scene  of  the  one-sided 
conflict  to  Charleston. 

It  was  an  hour  before  sunset,  and  we 
were  holding  the  same  pace  at  which  we 
started,  with  no  evidence  of  going  into 


112  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

camp,  when  Gavin  Witherspoon  said  bit- 
terly, as  if  the  thought  had  just  seized 
him : 

"  Lads,  if  it  so  be  you  have  any  curiosity 
concerning  this  long  march  of  ours,  during 
which  we  have  traversed  the  Williamsburg 
district  apparently  for  no  other  purpose  than 
to  come  upon  an  enemy  who  may  crush  us 
with  but  little  trouble,  I  can  satisfy  you." 

"Have  you  been  getting  some  special 
information  ? "  Percy  asked  with  a  laugh. 

"Aye,  lad,  that  I  have,  and  you  may  count 
upon  its  being  true,  although  I  got  it  only 
from  my  own  head." 

"  Then  you  are  guessing  as  to  where  we 
are  going?"  I  said  with  no  great  show  of 
enthusiasm,  for  I  was  weary  to  the  verge 
of  exhaustion  with  long  remaining  in  the 
saddle. 

"It  is  more  than  guessing,  lad.  It  is 
what  has  been  learned  from  observation, 
and  that  is  the  most  reliable  information 
a  man  can  obtain.  We  are  heading  for 
Nelson's  Ferry." 


THE  AMBUSH.  113 

"  If  that  is  all  your  observation  has 
taught  you,  it  would  seen  as  if  much  time 
had  been  wasted,"  Percy  replied  laugh- 
ingly. "Every  man  in  the  brigade  has 
known  as  much  since  noon." 

"  True,  lad,  but  that  is  not  the  sum  of  the 
information  I  am  willing  to  give.  It  has 
been  told  us  that  the  American  prisoners 
which  Lord  Cornwallis  took  are  being  sent 
to  Charleston  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and 
you  will  admit  with  me  that  all  must 
pass  through  this  same  place  toward 
which  we  are  bound.  It  is  General 
Marion's  purpose  to  strike  another  blow, 
if  no  more,  at  the  enemy,  and  in  so 
doing  set  free  some  of  those  who  were 
made  prisoners  through  their  general's 
stupidity. " 

There  was  much  of  sound  common  sense 
in  Gavin  Witherspoon's  reasoning,  and 
straightway  the  truth  of  it  came  into  my 
mind,  all  sense  of  fatigue  was  lost  sight  of 
in  the  relief  which  was  mine  at  knowing 
we  would  not  yet  submit  to  the  Britishers, 


114  WITH  THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

even  though  it  seemed  as  if  we  were 
already  driven  to  the  last  extremity. 

A  moment  before  the  old  man  gave 
words  to  his  thoughts,  I  would  have  said 
that  both  the  animal  I  bestrode  and  myself 
were  so  near  to  exhaustion  that  we  could 
not  hold  the  pace  an  hour  longer  ;  but  now 
it  was  as  if  I  had  enjoyed  a  long  time  of 
repose,  and  action  was  absolutely  neces- 
sary, lest  I  grow  rusty  with  much  idleness. 

'We  three  discussed  the  possibility  of  the 
future  as  if  all  Gavin  Witherspoon  had 
suggested  was  known  to  be  true,  until  one 
of  the  general's  aides  came  riding  down 
the  line,  drawing  rein  in  front  of  us,  as  he 
said  curtly: 

"  The  general  would  speak  with  you." 

"We  have  not  been  forgotten,"  Percy 
cried  gleefully,  "and  now  has  come  our 
time  to  render  some  immediate  service." 

"  Or  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy," 
Gavin  Witherspoon  added  with  a  smile. 
"  These  special  missions  are  not  the  safest, 
and  sometimes  he  who  sets  out  on  them 


THE   AMBUSH.  115 

with  the  idea  of  making  his  name  famous, 
comes  to  grief." 

"  As  1  did  yesterday,"  Percy  replied,  still 
laughing.  "  When  I  have  as  comrades  you 
and  Bob,  it  matters  little  how  much  of 
unpleasant  adventure  I  see,  save  for  the 
discomfort  of  the  moment." 

Then  the  dear  lad  spurred  his  horse  on- 
ward, and  we  two  followed,  Gavin  Wither- 
spoon  wearing  a  serious  countenance,  while 
I  was  in  much  perplexity  as  to  whether  two 
lads  like  Percy  and  myself  should  be  trusted 
with  work  such  as  old  soldiers  oftentimes 
fail  at  doing  successfully. 

Arriving  at  the  head  of  the  line  we  found 
the  general  and  Major  James  riding  side 
by  side. 

Both  returned  our  salute,  but  neither 
slackened  speed,  and  we  rode  alongside  of 
the  general,  Percy  and  I,  while  Gavin  re- 
mained slightly  in  the  rear. 

"  We  should  be  within  twenty  miles  of 
Nelson's  Ferry,"  the  commander  said, 
speaking  as  if  we  were  eager  for  such 


116  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

information.  "  It  is  certain  that  portions 
of  Cornwallis's  force  guarding  American 
prisoners  will  pass  there  from  time  to  time 
within  the  next  eight  and  forty  hours.  It 
is  my  desire  that  we  have  early  informa- 
tion of  such  coming  and  going,  and  to  that 
end  I  have  sent  for  you,  lads." 

He  paused  for  an  instant  as  if  debating 
in  his  mind  what  to  say  next,  and  Gavin 
Witherspoon  rode  up  that  he  might  attract 
the  general's  attention,  when  the  latter  said 
with  a  smile : 

"  I  am  speaking  to  you  two  lads  and  the 
old  man  who  is  so  eager  to  participate  in 
venturesome  missions.  Any  force  coming 
from  Camden  will  halt  over  night,  at  least, 
nearabout  the  Ferry.  By  riding  up  the 
river  ten  miles  or  more  you  should  be  able 
to  give  me  timely  information  of  their 
coming.  Within  an  hour  we  shall  halt, 
and  then  it  is  you  who  must  push  forward 
so  far  as  the  animals  can  go.  Continue  on 
until  having  come  to  a  point  ten  or  twelve 
miles  above  the  Ferry.  There  remain,  in 


THE   AMBUSH.  117 

whatsoever  fashion  may  please  you,  until 
you  hear  of  the  enemy's  approach.  Then 
wait  only  so  long  as  may  be  necessary  to 
learn  how  strong  he  is  in  numbers,  after 
which  you  will  ride  without  delay  to  Taw 
Caw  Creek,  on  the  bank  of  which  we  shall 
be  encamped." 

Having  said  this  he  saluted,  as  did  my 
uncle,  and  we  three,  understanding  that 
this  was  the  signal  for  dismissal,  reined 
in  our  steeds  until  we  were  fallen  back  to 
our  proper  place  in  the  line. 

The  knowledge  that  we  were  to  perform 
some  especial  work  which  bid  fair  to  be  of 
service  to  the  Cause,  heartened  us  wonder- 
fully, and  indeed  we  had  need  of  something 
to  raise  our  courage,  for  much  talking 
about  the  disasters  which  had  overtaken 
the  American  troops  caused  it  to  seem 
as  if  the  so-called  rebellion  was  well-nigh 
come  to  an  end. 

"  It  may  be  our  last  chance  of  striking 
a  blow  at  those  who  represent  the  king, 
lads,"  Gavin  Witherspoon  said  cheerily. 


118  WITH  THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

"  Mayhap  we  shall  be  fortunate  if  a  British 
bullet  finds  lodgment  in  our  bodies  with 
sufficient  force  to  wipe  us  out  of  existence, 
for  such  a  death  as  that  is  preferable  to 
hanging,  and  that  is  what  awaits  us  of 
Williamsburg  who  defy  his  majesty,  after 
my  Lord  Clinton's  second  proclamation." 

"  It  is  a  doleful  way  you  have  of  prepar- 
ing one  for  venturesome  work,"  Percy  said, 
with  a  laugh  which  told  that  he  claimed 
little  share  in  these  forebodings.  "  If  to 
be  shot  is  good  fortune,  then  we  may  re- 
joice, for  I  doubt  not  but  that  there  are 
hundreds  of  the  king's  servants  who  will 
readily  grant  such  a  favor." 

"  I  am  not  minded  to  dishearten  you," 
Gavin  said  in  a  kindly  tone;  "but  the 
straits  into  which  the  Cause  has  fallen  are 
so  sore  and  desperate  now,  that  to  an  old 
man  like  me  who  has  ventured  all,  it  would 
seem  as  if  a  soldier's  death,  coming  before 
the  last  blow  to  the  colonies  had  been 
struck,  was  a  kindly  thing.  However,  we 
are  like  to  go  ten  miles  above  Nelson's 


THE  AMBUSH.  119 

Ferry  and  back,  without  falling  into  more 
harm  than  was  brought  about  by  the  cap- 
ture of  Sam  Lee,  and  I  venture  to  say  we 
shall  report  in  proper  form  and  due  time 
such  information  as  the  general  desires." 

Then  we  fell  silent,  each  intent  on  his 
own  thoughts,  and  at  that  moment  I  was 
thinking  far  more  of  my  mother  than  of 
the  Cause,  for  Gavin  Witherspoon's  words 
had  depressed  me  until  it  began  to  appear 
as  if  I  might  never  see  her  dear  face 
again. 

From  this  pleasant  but  yet  painful  reverie 
I  was  roused  by  the  halting  of  the  command, 
and  Percy  said,  seizing  me  by  the  arm  as 
if  believing  I  had  fallen  asleep  : 

"  The  time  has  come  for  us  to  push  for- 
ward alone,  Bob,  and  we  must  make  as 
many  miles  'twixt  now  and  dark  as  can  be 
forced  out  of  these  jaded  steeds." 


120  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 


CHAPTER  VL 

THE    PRISONERS. 

GIVING  no  heed  to  those  around  us,  we 
continued  on  when  the  command  was 
halted,  much  as  if  we  had  not  heard  the 
orders,  and  without  anything  in  the  way 
of  leave-taking. 

I  know  not  how  it  may  have  been  with 
my  companions ;  but  as  for  myself,  I  was 
in  no  mood  to  speak  even  with  my  uncle, 
so  thickly  did  the  sad  and  gloomy  thoughts 
flow  through  my  mind.  It  was  to  me  as 
if  we  were  playing  the  last  acts  in  that 
drama  which  should  have  had  a  glorious 
ending — as  if  we  were  assisting  at  the 
death  of  the  Cause,  and  I  believe  that  nine 
out  of  every  ten  men  in  the  brigade  had 
some  such  thought  as  myself. 

It  was  true  that  we  might  strike  a  blow 
at  Nelson's  Ferry,  but  let  the  reader  re- 


THE  PRISONERS.  121 

member  that  ours,  was  probably  the  only 
armed  force,  true  to  the  colonies,  then  in 
the  Carolinas ;  let  him  remember  that  the 
Britishers  overran  our  land,  even  as  did 
the  locusts  of  old,  and  how  might  four 
hundred  men  or  less  oppose  all  the  soldiers 
the  king  could  send  against  us  ? 

Surely  for  us  of  the  southern  colonies, 
this  night,  when  we  three  set  out  to  spy 
upon  the  victorious  troops  coming  down 
from  Oamden  with  our  friends  as  prisoners, 
was  the  worst  ever  known. 

We  were  beaten — hemmed  in,  and,  like 
rats  in  the  corner,  could  only  make  one 
desperate  fight,  not  against  death,  but 
simply  as  proof  that  our  courage  held 
good  even  to  the  very  last  moment. 

Let  all  these  things  be  borne  well  in 
mind,  and  it  is  little  wonder  that  when 
we  rode  on  after  the  command  was  halted, 
we  were  in  no  mood  for  leave-taking. 
Ours  might,  and  it  seemed  probable  it 
would,  be  the  last  blow  in  a  gallant  strug- 
gle for  liberty. 


122  WITH   THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

When  we  passed  the  group  of  officers 
at  the  head  of  the  column,  all  sitting  their 
horses  motionless  as  statues,  looking 
neither  to  the  right  nor  the  left,  but  each 
man  as  it  were  peering  into  the  recesses 
of  his  own  heart,  asking  himself  in  what 
way  the  end  would  come,  I  gave  one  glance 
toward  my  uncle,  and  it  seemed  to  me  as 
if  there  was  a  certain  uplifting  of  the  eye- 
brows which  I  interpreted  as  a  "good- 
by." 

More  than  that  we  saw  not,  and  five 
minutes  later  the  brigade  of  Williamsburg 
patriots,  tried  and  true,  were  left  behind, 
while  we  two  lads  and  the  old  man  rode 
forward,  hoping  almost  against  hope  that 
it  might  be  possible  we  should  accomplish 
something  toward  showing  the  British 
king  how  strong  in  our  hearts  was  the 
desire  for  liberty. 

Our  horses,  jaded  by  the  long  march  of 
the  day,  were  unwilling  to  leave  the  troop ; 
they  went  forward  listlessly,  and  we  had 
not  the  heart  to  spur  them  on  because  it 


THE   PRISONERS.  123 

was  much  as  if  they  shared  our  feel- 
ings. 

I  question  if  we  gained  ten  miles  in  ad- 
vance of  the  column  that  night. 

Certain  it  is  we  were  not  yet  come  with- 
in the  vicinity  of  Nelson's  Ferry  when 
Gavin  Witherspoon's  horse  stopped  short, 
and  the  old  man  said  as  he  dismounted 
slowly : 

"  We  may  as  well  rest  here  for  the  night, 
as  a  mile  or  two  further  on.  I  propose  that 
we  halt  until  a  couple  of  hours  before  sun- 
rise, and  hy  so  doing  we  shall  gain  time." 

After  the  experience  we  had  had  with 
the  old  man,  Percy  and  I  were  more  than 
willing  to  follow  his  advice,  and  we  set 
about  making  ourselves  as  comfortable  as 
might  be  under  all  the  circumstances. 

A  better  place  for  camping  could  not 
be  found.  A  tiny  brook  running  through 
a  grove  of  pines,  where  the  underbrush 
was  so  dense  as  to  form  ample  hiding-place, 
as  well  as  a  shelter  from  the  dews  of  the 
night.  There  was  little  green  feed  for  the 


124  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

horses ;  but  we  carried  a  goodly  store  of 
grain  on  our  saddles,  and,  heedless  of  the 
possible  necessities  of  the  future  which 
seemed  so  dark,  we  allowed  the  tired  steeds 
to  eat  their  pleasure  from  the  store. 

Such  food  as  we  had,  and  as  I  have  said 
was  taken  from  the  Tory  camp,  we  ate,  and 
then,  lame  and  sore  in  every  joint  from  the 
long  hours  in  the  saddle,  we  laid  ourselves 
down  for  perchance  the  last  sleep  on  this 
earth. 

My  eyes  were  closed  in  slumber  within 
two  or  three  minutes  after  I  was  thus 
stretched  at  full  length  upon  the  bed  of  pine 
needles,  and  it  seemed  as  if  I  had  slept 
several  hours  when  something — I  know 
not  what — awakened  me. 

There  was  no  movement,  and  the  faint 
light  of  the  stars  did  not  penetrate  the 
thicket ;  yet  I  could  see  that  the  horses 
were  lying  down ;  that  my  comrades  were 
wrapped  in  slumber,  and  it  puzzled  me  to 
make  out  why  I  was  thus  wakeful. 

Then,  partially  turning  my  head,  for  no 


THE   PRISONERS.  125 

other  reason  than  to  make  a  change  of 
position,  I  saw  what  appeared  to  be  the  re- 
flection of  a  camp-fire  through  the  under- 
brush. 

When  one  knows  that  he  is  surrounded 
by  enemies,  the  lightest  thing  out  of  the 
ordinary  arouses  his  suspicions,  and  al- 
though this  gleam  of  light  was  so  faint 
that  at  another  time  I  would  have  given 
no  heed  to  it,  now  it  seemed  absolutely 
necessary  I  should  understand  the  cause. 

It  would  be  foolish  to  awaken  my  com- 
rades, so  I  argued,  when  there  might  be 
no  good  reason,  and  I  crept  out  through 
the  bushes  softly  until,  having  traversed  a 
distance  of  fifty  yards  or  more,  when  I  saw 
that  we  were  not  the  only  ones  who  had 
utilized  this  thicket  as  a  camp. 

Four  men  sat  around  a  small  fire  eating, 
and  near  by  were  tethered  their  horses. 

It  was  fortunate  our  steeds  were  so  leg' 
weary,  else  when  this  party  drove  up  they 
might  have  given  the  alarm,  for  I  doubted 
not  but  that  these  were  enemies.  At  such 


126  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

time  in  the  history  of  the  so-called  rebellion 
we  had  so  few  friends  as  to  be  able  to  say 
with  a  certainty  where  they  were. 

It  was  in  my  mind  to  return  at  once  and 
arouse  Gavin  Witherspoon  and  Percy,  that 
we  might  make  our  escape ;  but  all  was 
so  quiet,  and  these  four  apparently  un- 
suspicious that  any  save  themselves  were 
in  the  vicinity,  that  I  delayed  carrying  out 
the  purpose  in  my  mind,  until,  having 
almost  unconsciously  approached  a  few 
yards  nearer,  I  recognized  in  one  of  them, 
that  Tory  villain,  Sam  Lee. 

Once  this  discovery  was  made  I  no  longer 
thought  of  returning  to  where  I  had  left 
my  comrades ;  but  wriggled  along  yet 
nearer,  and  was  well  repaid  for  the  delay. 

It  would  seem  as  if  the  men  had  been 
questioning  young  Lee  as  to  his  ability  to 
do  something  which  had  been  promised, 
for  one  of  them  was  saying  when  I  came 
within  earshot : 

"It  is  a  blind  chase  to  push  ahead  in 
search  of  a  party  of  rebels  who  by  this 


THE   PRISONERS.  127 

time  may  have  returned  home,  hoping  to 
keep  secret  the  part  they  have  been  play- 
ing." 

To  this  Sam  Lee  replied  hotly,  much  as 
if  the  honor  of  the  James  family  were  in 
his  keeping : 

"  The  major  will  never  go  home  alive  so 
long  as  one  other  can  be  found  to  remain 
with  him,  and  there  are  many  of  his  kin 
in  Williamsburg." 

"  But  what  reason  have  we  for  believing 
you  can  lead  us  to  them  ? " 

"  Because  I  know  of  their  haunts,"  the 
scoundrel  said,  as  if  he  was  telling  the 
truth.  "  So  far  all  they  have  accomplished 
has  been  by  surprising  our  people  who  are 
not  soldiers ;  but  I  guarantee  that  you  men 
of  the  Prince  of  Wales'  regiment  will  make 
a  different  showing  among  them." 

"  Of  that  I  have  no  question  ;  but  these 
people,  knowing  fully  the  country,  can 
easily  disperse  between  the  time  we  come 
upon  them,  and  word  has  been  sent  to  the 
command.  Then  again,  we  must  trust  to 


128  WITH   THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

your  finding  them,  which  I  misdoubt 
greatly,  else  are  you  a  keener  lad  than  I 
have  seen  in  the  Carolinas." 

It  was  the  eldest  of  the  three  men  who 
said  this,  and  as  he  moved  slightly  I  saw 
that  his  uniform,  which  I  knew  full  well, 
was  that  of  the  Prince  of  Wales'  regiment, 
to  which  organization  Sam  Lee  had  re- 
ferred. 

"  You  may  do  as  you  please,"  the  young 
Troy  said  angrily.  "  I  have  told  the  colonel 
that  I  could  lead  you  to  where  the  scare- 
crow Marion  was  encamped  and  put  you 
on  their  trail  wheresoever  the  forces 
might  be  going ;  but  if,  now  that  we  are 
hardly  more  than  started,  you  choose  to 
turn  back,  it  is  none  of  my  affair,  I  have 
done  my  part." 

No  reply  was  made  to  this,  and  for  a 
time  the  men  were  silent,  while  I,  specula- 
ting as  to  what  might  be  their  purpose,  be- 
lieved it  was  a  simple  matter  to  guess  why 
they  were  there. 

We  knew  full  well  that  Sam  Lee  had  been 


THE   PRISONERS.  129 

in  Captain  Barfield's  encampment,  and,  like 
the  coward  that  he  was,  fled  when  our 
troops  came  up.  He  also  must  have  ridden 
all  day  in  order  to  gain  Nelson's  Ferry ;  had 
most  likely  met  this  regiment  of  the  king's, 
and  claimed  ability  to  deliver  our  people 
into  their  hands.  It  seemed  also  true  that 
these  troopers  had  ridden  in  advance  of  the 
command,  as  had  we  three,  and  we  were 
thus  come  together  at  a  place  midway  be- 
tween the  Britishers  and  our  own  force. 

Up  to  this  point  I  had  no  difficulty  in 
forming  a  satisfactory  conclusion  ;  but  be- 
yond that  I  was  all  at  sea,  and  naturally 
thought  the  proper  course  was  to  return 
and  give  information  to  Gavin  Wither- 
spoon. 

In  fact  I  was  in  the  act  of  turning  when 
one  of  the  soldiers  said  grumblingly : 

"  Even  though  the  rebels  may  be  where 
this  lad  has  stated,  I  fail  to  see  why  we 
should  have  left  the  camp  and  ridden  half 
a  dozen  miles  in  advance.  What  good  can 
The  gained  by  spending  the  night  here, 


130  WITH   THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

when  we  might  have  done  so  with  our 
comrades  ? " 

"  For  my  part,"  the  third  trooper  added, 
"  I  would  rather  sleep  here  than  do  my  share 
of  guarding  an  hundred  or  more  scurvy 
rebels.  Had  we  stayed  in  camp  some 
portion  of  the  duty  would  have  come  upon 
us,  whereas  we  may  lie  down  under  these 
bushes  and  sleep  until  it  pleases  us  to  open 
our  eyes  next  morning." 

"  That  is  all  very  true,"  the  first  speaker 
replied  ;  "  yet  there  were  good  quarters  to 
be  found  at  Nelson's  Ferry,  and  here  a  bed 
upon  the  ground  is  the  best  to  be  had." 

It  was  almost  with  difficulty  that  I  sup- 
pressed a  cry  of  triumph,  for  now  I  had 
the  full  story,  and  we  might  return  with 
the  information  desired  by  General  Marion 
before  having  fairly  set  out  to  do  the 
work. 

The  British  force,  comprised  in  whole  or 
in  part  of  the  Prince  of  Wales'  regiment, 
and  guarding  an  hundred  or  more  of  our 
people,  captured  when  General  Gates  was 


THE   PRISONERS.  131 

defeated,  were  encamped  at  Nelson's  Ferry, 
six  or  seven  miles  away.  These  fellows, 
through  information  given  by  Sam  Lee, 
were  coming  out  in  search  of  us,  and  would 
not  leave  their  halting-place  until  sun- 
rise. 

It  was  a  lucky  chance  which  led  us  to 
this  spot,  and  the  forebodings  which  had 
weighed  heavily  upon  me  a  few  hours  pre- 
vious, were  lightened  wonderfully  by  the 
thought  that  fortune,  which  had  borne  so 
hardly  upon  us  in  the  past,  was  about  tak- 
ing a  turn  in  our  favor. 

I  lost  no  time  in  returning  at  once  to  my 
comrades,  although  forced  to  do  so  slowly 
lest  I  make  so  much  of  noise  that  the  Tory 
and  his  red-coated  companions  be  warned 
of  our  nearness. 

Then,  having  arrived  by  the  side  of  Percy 
and  Gavin  Witherspoon,  I  pressed  both 
hands  upon  their  mouths  to  prevent  any 
cry  in  their  awakening. 

The  old  man's  grasp  upon  my  arm  told 
that  he  was  fully  alive  to  the  situation, 


132  WITH   THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

and  I  repeated  as  quickly  as  might  be  all 
that  had  been  heard. 

Sitting  bolt  upright  as  if  any  future 
movement  depended  wholly  upon  me,  he 
said  in  a  whisper  : 

"  Whether  the  horses  can  cover  sixteen 
or  twenty  miles  after  a  long  day's  work,  is 
a  question." 

"  But  one  which  you  should  not  ask," 
Percy  added  in  a  more  serious  tone  than  I 
had  ever  heard  him  employ.  "  We  have 
gained  the  information  for  which  we  were 
sent,  and  it  must  be  carried  back  to  camp 
without  delay." 

"  I  grant  you  that,  lad ;  but  was  only 
asking  myself  whether  it  might  be  pos- 
sible for  our  people  to  take  advantage  of 
it." 

"  Such  speculations  can  be  deferred  until 
we  have  spoken  with  General  Marion," 
Percy  replied  as  he  arose,  and  after  that 
there  was  no  discussion  among  us. 

To  get  the  horses  on  their  feet  without 
making  a  noise  was  no  slight  task ;  but 


THE   PRISONERS.  133 

accomplished  it  after  a  certain  fashion, 
and  led  them  out  of  the  thicket,  not  mount- 
ing until  we  were  fully  two  miles  away. 

After  that  our  progress  was  no  more 
rapid  than  if  we  had  remained  on  foot,  for 
it  seemed  impossible  to  urge  the  animals 
at  a  pace  faster  than  a  walk,  and  it  ap- 
peared to  me  as  if  the  morning  must  be 
near  at  hand  when  we  were  finally  come 
to  the  encampment. 

All  our  men  were  not  given  over  to 
slumber,  as  was  shown  by  our  being 
challenged  before  yet  we  knew  how  near 
to  us  was  the  military  force,  and  five 
minutes  later  we  were  standing  beside 
our  uncle,  who,  suddenly  aroused  from  his 
sleep,  asked  with  a  note  of  alarm  in  his 
tones  : 

"  What  disaster  has  befallen  you  ? " 

We  soon  gave  him  to  understand  that 
fortune  had  played  us  a  good  turn,  and 
immediately  the  information  was  given  he 
became  animated. 

One  would  have  said  he  had  never  known 


134  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

fatigue,  to  have  seen  him  as  he  ran  toward 
where  General  Marion  was  sleeping,  and, 
shaking  the  officer  into  wakefulness,  he 
repeated  in  a  few  words  our  story. 

I  had  supposed  the  news  we  brought 
would  cause  some  sensation  in  the  camp  ; 
but  never  believed  it  would  be  acted  upon 
so  quickly. 

Within  fifteen  minutes  from  the  time 
of  our  being  challenged  by  the  sentinel, 
every  man  was  in  the  saddle,  and  Percy, 
Gavin  Witherspoon  and  myself  were  riding 
at  the  head  of  the  column  by  my  uncle's 
side,  in  order  that  we  might  point  out  the 
plw.<!  wh<-n^  thi',: soldiers  am!  S;un  Lcc  wcm 
encamped. 

We  now  learned  that  it  was  midnight ; 
the  tired  men  and  their  horses  had  had  six 
hours  of  rest,  and  although  the  advance 
was  not  rapid,  we  pressed  forward  with 
greater  speed  than  I  had  believed  possible, 
our  own  steeds  seeming  to  be  revived  by 
the  companionship  of  the  others. 

Now  I  am  come  to  that  point  in  this 


TIIK  PRISONERS.  185 

story  concerning  which  I  can  say  but  little 
of  my  own  knowledge,  for  certain  it  is  that 
I  fell  asleep  even  while  in  the  saddle,  and 
was  not  conscious  of  anything  until  the 
halting  of  my  horse  nearly  threw  me  over 
his  head. 

We  had  arrived  within  two  miles  of 
Nelson's  Ferry,  and  it  was  yet  night.  Un- 
less some  unfortunate  accident  occurred 
at  the  last  moment,  there  was  an  oppor- 
tunity of  our  soon  learning  whether  the 
British  regulars  would  hold  firm  under 
such  a  surprise  as  we  should  be  able  to 
give  them. 

The  purpose  of  the  halt  was  not  to  re- 
connoiter,  as  I  had  at  first  supposed,  but 
in  order  that  a  squad  of  twenty  might  be 
detached  to  gain  possession  of  the  road  in 

the  swamp  at  that  post  known  as  Horse 

(Voek,  while  wo  wore*  1o  attack  tho  main 
body  in  the  rear. 

Tho  scouts  who  had  been  sent  ahead 
half  an  hour  boforo  my  awakoning,  camo 
back  reporting  that  the  enemy  were  en- 


136  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

camped  on  the  east  bank  of  the  creek, 
which  was  another  and  a  great  point  in 
our  favor. 

Once  more  would  General  Marion  have  a 
chance  to  execute  his  favorite  maneuver, 
the  only  one  by  which  we  could  hope  to 
win  while  the  odds  were  so  heavily  against 
us. 

Twenty  minutes  or  more  were  spent 
here  waiting  for  the  detachment  to  get  in- 
to position  at  Horse  Creek,  and  then  the 
advance  was  resumed,  this  time  at  a  slow 
pace  lest  the  thud  of  our  horses'  feet  upon 
the  road  should  give  an  alarm. 

Despite  the  fact  that  I  knew  full  well 
we  would  soon  be  engaged  in  deadly  en- 
counter, slumber  weighed  heavily  upon 
my  eyelids,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  I 
could  prevent  them  from  closing. 

Rather  like  one  in  a  dream,  than  a  lad 
who  burned  to  give  his  life  for  the  Cause, 
did  I  hold  myself  in  the  saddle,  and  it 
seemed  as  if  no  more  than  ten  minutes 
had  passed  when  we  were  halted  again, 


THE   PRISONERS,  137 

this  time  so  near  the  enemy  that  the 
gleam  of  his  camp-fires  could  be  seen. 

The  moment  for  reflection  had  come. 

General  Marion's  force  was  about  to  be 
hurled  upon  the  best  men  in  the  king's 
army.  We  who  knew  little  or  nothing  of 
military  tactics,  we  who  were  mounted 
upon  jaded  steeds,  and  half  dead  for  lack 
of  sleep,  were  about  to  charge  a  camp  of 
well  armed  men,  most  likely  in  the  best 
possible  condition,  and  if  the  end  for  us  of 
the  southern  colonies  was  near,  it  seemed 
as  if  this  was  indeed  the  last  moment. 

"  At  full  speed,  and  do  not  fire  until  we 
are  close  upon  them ! "  was  the  whispered 
word  passed  from  man  to  man,  and  I  saw 
those  either  side  of  me  carefully  charging 
their  rifles  or  muskets. 

Even  though  we  were  come  upon  the 
Prince  of  Wales'  regiment  and  a  portion  of 
the  63d  Regulars,  as  was  afterward 
learned,  the  result  was  much  the  same  as 
when  we  rode  down  upon  the  undiscip- 
lined Tories. 


138  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

There  was  the  onward  leaping  of  the 
horses  as  the  spurs  were  sunk  deep  in  their 
flanks ;  the  thunder  of  their  hoofs ;  the 
cries  of  the  enemy  as  they  were  awakened 
from  their  slumbers;  our  shouts  of 
triumph  ;  the  crackle  of  musketry  and  the 
groans  of  the  wounded. 

It  was  a  dream — a  horrible  nightmare 
rather  than  a  reality,  and  had  I  been  a 
spectator  instead  of  a  participant,  it  would 
have  seemed  no  different. 

At  such  times  the  excitement  of  the 
battle  is  full  upon  one,  and  I  have  yet  to 
see  man  or  boy  who  can  give  a  clear  and 
detailed  account  of  all  that  occurred  while 
the  scent  of  the  powder  was  in  his  nos- 
trils. 

This  much  I  do  know,  that,  as  twice  be- 
fore, I  loaded  and  discharged  my  musket, 
or  used  it  as  a  club ;  that  I  forced  my  horse 
to  keep  pace  with  my  uncle's  steed,  who 
was  ever  foremost  in  the  fray,  and  then 
the  fleeing  mass  told  that  the  enemy  were 
in  retreat. 


THE  PRISONERS.  139 

This  victory,  when  the  majority  of  our 
men  had  believed  the  attack  would  prove 
our  final  ending,  did  more  to  revive  the 
drooping  spirits  of  General  Marion's  force 
than  anything  else  could  have  done. 

We  forgot  weariness ;  forgot  everything 
save  the  fact  that  we  of  Williamsburg  had 
been  pitted  against  the  king's  best  soldiers, 
and  were  come  out  of  the  battle  as  well  as 
when  we  met  Major  Gainey's  or  Barfield's 
men. 

On  this  occasion,  however,  we  did  not 
press  the  pursuit.  It  was  known  that  these 
soldiers  would  re-form,  where  raw  recruits 
might  continue  panic-stricken,  and  we  were 
not  so  strong  in  numbers  as  to  risk  a  reg- 
ular engagement. 

My  uncle  was  the  foremost  here,  as  he 
ever  had  been,  and  Percy  and  I  remained 
by  his  side,  therefore  can  I  say  of  a  verity 
that  we  did  not  ride  after  the  retreating 
column  more  than  half  a  mile ;  but,  once 
well  clear  of  the  encampment,  drew  rein 
and  turned  about. 


140  WITH  THE   SWAMP   POX. 

It  was  now  near  to  daylight,  and  we 
soon  learned  that  we  had  captured  or  killed 
twenty-two  regulars,  among  whom  was  a 
captain,  and  held  two  Tories  as  prisoners. 

Our  loss  was  one  killed  and  one 
wounded. 

In  addition  to  having  thus  gained  a  vic- 
tory over  the  best  of  his  majesty's  soldiers 
in  the  colonies,  we  had  recaptured  one 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  and  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  say  how  much  of  rejoicing  there 
was  in  our  lines  when  the  sun  rose. 

Now  am  I  come  to  the  shameful  part  of 
the  story,  and  one  which  will  be  most  dif- 
ficult of  belief. 

To  Percy  and  I  it  seemed  that  with  this 
successful  attack,  by  liberating  one  hundred 
and  fifty  men  who  were  supposed  to  be 
friends  to  the  Cause,  because  of  wearing 
the  Continental  uniform,  we  had  added 
just  so  much  to  General  Marion's  strength, 
and  neither  of  us  had  any  question  but 
that  every  one  of  them  would  gladly  join 
our  force. 


THE   PRISONERS.  141 

As  we  two  believed,  so  did  all  our  com- 
rades as  well  as  the  officers  who  led  us,  for 
after  the  first  rejoicings  were  over  those 
who  had  been  prisoners  were  ordered  into 
line,  and  Major  James  proposed,  with  the 
air  of  one  who  thinks  he  makes  what  will 
be  accepted  without  question,  that  they 
enroll  themselves  among  us  of  Williams- 
burg  until  such  time  as  we  could  fight  our 
way  through  the  district  to  where  others 
who  loved  the  Cause  might  be  found. 

To  the  shame  of  these  Continental  soldiers 
it  must  be  set  down  that  out  of  that  number 
freed  by  us  at  risk  of  our  lives,  only  three 
consented  to  serve  under  the  general. 

Some  said  that  the  "  Cause  was  lost ; " 
others  declared  that  to  fight  longer  was 
"  simply  to  risk  one's  life  without  an  object, 
because  the  king's  troops  overrun  the 
country,  and  after  the  defeat  of  Gates  there 
was  no  longer  the  slightest  chance  we  could 
hold  our  own  many  days." 

When  no  more  than  these  three  stepped 
forward  from  the  ranks  in  response  to  his 


142  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

proposal,  and  the  others  talked  loudly 
among  themselves,  or  with  our  men,  my 
uncle  turned  away  like  one  who  is  stricken 
with  a  deadly  wound. 

Then  Percy  and  I  made  our  way  among 
these  men  who  wore  the  buff  and  the  blue, 
to  hear  further  reasons  as  to  why  they  had 
acted  such  a  cowardly  part. 

It  was  a  captain,  one  who  should  have 
been  the  first  to  urge  his  men  to  enlist,  who 
said  in  reply  to  my  questions  : 

"  Surely  the  Cause  has  none  in  the  Car- 
olinas,  save  this  beggarly  force  to  which 
you  are  attached,  while  the  British  have- 
overrun  this  section  of  the  country.  The 
Continentals  are  dispersed  or  captured  ;  the 
Virginia  and  North  Carolina  militia  are 
scattered  to  the  four  winds ;  Sumter's 
Legion  has  been  whipped  by  Tarleton,  and 
their  leader  is  fleeing  for  his  life.  In  addi- 
tion to  all  that,  here  is  a  copy  of  the  letter 
which  Lord  Clinton  has  sent  to  the  com- 
mandants of  the  different  posts  through- 
out the  colonies." 


THE   PRISONERS.  143 

Then  the  officer  handed  me  a  slip  of  paper 
on  which  was  written  the  following : 

"  I  have  given  orders  that  all  of  the  in- 
habitants of  this  province  who  have  sub- 
scribed, and  have  taken  part  in  this  revolt, 
should  be  punished  with  the  greatest  rigor ; 
and  also  those  who  will  not  turn  out,  that 
they  may  be  imprisoned  and  their  whole 
property  taken  from  them  or  destroyed. 
...  I  have  ordered  in  the  most  positive 
manner  that  every  militiaman,  who  has 
borne  arms  with  us,  and  afterwards  joined 
the  enemy,  shall  be  immediately  hanged!" 


144  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  RETEEAT. 

WE  of  Williamsburg  were  most  certainly 
in  a  peculiar  position,  after  having  released 
one  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners  and  discov- 
ered that  only  three  had  sufficient  faith  in 
the  Cause,  or  were  sufficiently  eager  for 
death,  to  join  us. 

Now  right  here  let  me  set  down  that  the 
men  under  General  Marion  were  true  pa- 
triots, gentlemen  of  the  Williamsburg  dis- 
trict, and  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  wor- 
thy citizens.  This  I  say  because  the  British 
people  even  at  this  late  day,  five  years  since 
peace  was  declared  and  we  have  become  a 
free  and  independent  people,  say  that  "  that 
officer  who  caused  Tarleton  so  much  annoy- 
ance had  as  a  following  only  the  dissolute 
and  depraved. " 


THE   RETREAT.  145 

I  repeat,  the  force  under  General  Marion 
was  made  up  of  gentlemen,  the  greater 
number  of  whom  owned  plantations  in  or 
near  the  Williamsburg  district,  and  the 
fact  that  they  had  for  a  leader  such  a  man 
as  my  uncle,  Major  James,  is  sufficient 
proof  as  to  their  character.  « 

Although  these  men  were  by  this  time 
come  to  believe  that  the  Cause  for  which 
they  had  struggled  so  long  was  much  the 
same  as  lost,  so  far  as  we  in  the  southern 
colonies  were  concerned,  yet  they  were  not 
of  the  class  that  acknowledges  itself  beaten 
while  life  remains. 

Therefore  it  was,  that  instead  of  being 
yet  further  disheartened  by  this  failure 
which  followed  a  brilliant  victory,  they 
were  the  more  determined  to  strike  every 
possible  blow  before  the  end  should  come. 

The  cruel  and  barbarous  proclamation  of 
Lord  Clinton  aroused  their  anger  rather 
than  fear,  and  within  half  an  hour  after  it 
had  been  circulated  among  us,  I  heard  my 
uncle,  the  major,  say  that  no  document 


IO 


146  WITH   THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

could  have  been  put  in  a  style  better  cal- 
culated to  drive  recruits  into  our  ranks 
than  that  which  was  written  evidently  for 
the  purpose  of  frightening  the  colony  into 
submission. 

There  is,  perhaps,  a  good  word  to  be 
spoken  for  those  men,  who,  having  been 
released  from  captivity  by  us,  were  willing 
to  serve  under  General  Marion. 

They  had  been  whipped  at  the  very  mo- 
ment victory  seemed  certain,  and  it  is  little 
wonder  that  the  faint-hearted  should  have 
begun  to  despair,  when,  after  four  years  of 
desperate  struggling,  the  "rebellion"  was 
well-nigh  crushed  out. 

At  the  moment,  we  of  Williamsburg 
could  have  no  sympathy  for  such  cowards, 
as  we  called  them,  and  had  any  of  the  men 
begged  us  for  food  I  question  if  we  would 
have  supplied  their  wants,  so  angered  were 
we  by  the  refusal  to  enlist. 

It  was  evident  to  every  man  among  us 
that  it  was  not  safe  to  remain  on  this  road 
over  which  the  British  soldiers  were  con- 


THE   RETREAT. 

tinually  passing,  and  particularly  since 
those  whom  we  had  defeated  would  speed- 
ily give  information  to  all  the  king's  officers 
in  the  colony. 

From  this  hour  our  little  brigade  would 
be  hunted  down  without  mercy,  and  there 
could  be  no  question  but  that  the  chase 
would  be  a  lively  one  since  the  Britishers 
in  this  section  had  no  other  "  rebels  "  with 
whom  to  occupy  their  attention. 

Therefore  it  was  that  every  man  in  the 
command  felt  a  certain  sense  of  relief, 
when,  after  a  halt  of  no  more  than  four 
hours,  word  was  given  to  remount  the  tired 
horses. 

"We  rode  four  hours  or  more,  and  then 
were  come  to  the  forest  round  about  Hope 
Mountain,  when  the  word  was  given  that 
we  would  have  an  opportunity  to  indulge 
in  a  long  rest. 

During  this  march  it  can  well  be  imagined 
that  Gavin  Witherspoon,  Percy  and  myself 
kept  a  sharp  lookout  for  Sam  Lee.  The 
greatest  desire  in  my  heart  at  that  moment 


148  WITH   THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

was  to  make  a  prisoner  of  the  young  Tory, 
for  he,  knowing  well  every  man  in  the 
brigade,  would  be  able  to  give  the  Britishers 
many  valuable  hints  regarding  our  prob- 
able whereabouts,  and  so  long  as  he  re- 
mained at  liberty  we  had  a  dangerous 
enemy  afoot,  even  though  that  enemy  was 
a  coward. 

Every  man,  including  officers,  brought 
away  with  him  from  this  last  encounter  a 
goodly  store  of  provisions,  and  there  was 
no  fear  of  suffering  from  lack  of  food,  even 
though  we  remained  a  week  in  this  en- 
campment at  the  foot  of  the  mountain. 

The  days  were  passed  in  perfect  idleness, 
save  so  far  as  the  grooming  of  our  horses 
was  concerned,  and,  although  not  a  trooper 
left  the  camp,  we  were  kept  well  informed 
regarding  the  movements  of  the  enemy, 
by  such  of  the  people  round  about  as  were 
friendly  to  the  Cause. 

Therefore  it  was  that  we  heard  sad  news 
from  Camden  when  the  humane  and  chiv- 
alrous Lord  Cornwallis  hanged  eight  old 


THE   RETREAT.  149 

men  and  seven  boys,  prisoners  whom  he 
had  taken  after  the  battle,  simply  because 
there  was  a  suspicion  that  they  might 
have  been  concerned  in  the  so-called  rebel- 
lion. 

Nor  was  this  wholesale  murder  the  only 
crime  committed  by  the  conquerors  in  the 
Carolinas  during  the  week  we  remained 
idle. 

From  every  quarter  came  stories  of 
barbarity  and  excesses  committed  by 
British  officers,  and  that  which  seemed  like 
a  great  misfortune  soon  proved,  despite 
the  horror,  to  be  a  blessing  in  disguise,  for 
it  drove  into  our  ranks  every  man  from 
the  surrounding  country  who  had  ever 
been  charged,  whether  rightfully  or  no, 
with  taking  any  part  whatsoever  in  the 
resistance  to  the  king's  oppressions. 

Within  six  days  there  were  enrolled 
among  the  followers  of  General  Marion  no 
less  than  seven  hundred  and  fifty  good  men 
and  true  ;  but  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that 
such  number  remained  in  camp. 


150  WITH   THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

In  fact,  although  the  brigade  was  being 
strengthened  daily,  the  force  under  arms 
was  decreasing,  and  for  two  good  reasons  : 
First,  because  such  a  body  could  not  readily 
be  supplied  with  provisions,  and  secondly, 
because  the  majority  of  these  troopers 
were  men  of  families,  who,  during  this 
season  of  inactivity,  took  advantage  of  the 
opportunity  to  provide  for  the  wants  of 
those  at  home. 

No  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  re- 
mained in  the  camp  at  Hope  Mountain ; 
but  the  others  stood  ready  to  respond  to 
the  first  summons  that  their  service  was 
needed. 

It  was  late  in  the  evening  of  the  eighth 
day,  when  one  on  whose  fidelity  to  the 
Cause  we  could  rely,  came  into  camp  with 
the  information  that  Tarleton's  Legion  and 
a  strong  force  under  Major  Wemyss,  had 
been  sent  by  Lord  Cornwallis  against  us. 

Although  his  lordship  had  affected  to  de- 
spise General  Marion,  he  certainly  acted 
as  if  he  believed  our  commander  a  gal- 


THE  RETREAT.  151 

lant  officer,  otherwise  why  were  the  63d 
Regulars  and  the  Legion  of  Tarleton  sent 
against  what  the  Britishers  had  contemp- 
tuously termed  "  that  beggarly  crew." 

Before  morning  other  friends  came  into 
camp,  and  we  knew  that  the  two  forces 
were  not  as  yet  united ;  but  Major  Wemyss 
with  the  63d  Regulars,  and  a  large  body 
of  Tories  under  Major  Harrison,  were 
advancing  rapidly  toward  Hope  Mountain, 
information  of  our  whereabouts  having 
been  given,  perhaps,  by  that  young  scoun- 
drel, Sam  Lee,  who  I  doubted  not  was  doing 
his  best  to  work  us  harm. 

Although  there  was  much  in  this  infor- 
mation to  dishearten,  I  believe  every  mem- 
ber of  our  small  band  felt  a  certain  sense 
of  satisfaction  that  the  time  for  action  was 
near  at  hand.  None  of  us  had  doubted  but 
that  we  should  be  employed  against  the 
enemy  in  some  manner,  despite  the  great 
difference  in  numbers. 

Gavin  Wither  spoon,  Percy  and  I  were  so 
fortunate  as  to  be  among  the  fifty  selected 


152  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

to  reconnoiter,  and  when  we  saddled  our 
horses,  which  were  in  prime  condition  after 
their  long  halt,  there  was  a  certain  sense 
of  exultation  in  our  hearts,  even  though  it 
seemed  absolutely  certain  we  could  effect 
nothing  so  far  as  the  welfare  of  the  Cause 
was  concerned. 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  write  at  any 
length  regarding  the  adventure  which  be- 
fell us,  for  among  the  many  deeds  of  dar- 
ing which  the  followers  of  General  Marion 
were  given  liberty  to  perform,  this  incident 
would  seem  to  one  who  did  not  take  part 
in  it,  as  something  too  trifling  to  be  worthy 
of  mention. 

Therefore  will  I  tell  it  hurriedly,  and  in 
the  fewest  words,  in  order  the  sooner  to 
come  to  that  time  of  sorrow  and  humilia- 
tion when  we  began  the  retreat  from  the 
lower  Carolinas. 

We,  fifty  picked  men,  and  I  speak  of 
Percy  and  myself  as  such  although  we 
were  only  boys,  set  out  near  to  noon  on  the 
reconnoiter,  understanding  that  the  re- 


THE  RETREAT.  153 

mainder  of  the  force  led  by  General  Marion 
would  follow  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  in  the 
rear  in  order  to  be  ready,  if  opportunity 
presented  itself,  to  fall  upon  the  detached 
bands  of  Major  Wemyss'  command. 

It  was  known,  however,  that  the  general 
would  halt  at  the  old  Sinclair  plantation, 
if  it  so  chanced  that  the  venture  should 
lead  us  thus  far. 

Until  nightfall  we  rode  straight  on,  and 
then  we  were  met  by  those  who  told  us 
that  the  advance  guard  of  the  enemy  was 
near  at  hand. 

The  command  was  immediately  given 
for  each  man  to  conceal  himself  in  the 
thicket  either  side  the  road,  where  a  view 
could  be  had  of  the  enemy  as  they  passed, 
and  in  such  position  we  were  to  remain 
until  the  last  straggler  was  beyond  us, 
after  which  the  major  proposed  that,  by 
making  a  wide  detour,  we  could  reach  the 
Sinclair  plantation  in  ample  time  to  give 
an  alarm,  should  it  be  learned  that  the 
attack  was  not  advisable. 


154:  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

Although  we  were  in  hiding,  and  there 
was  little  reason  for  whosoever  might  lead 
this  force  to  believe  any  of  Marion's  men 
were  in  the  vicinity,  the  position  we  had 
taken  was  a  dangerous  one,  for  perad- 
venture  one  of  our  horses  was  allowed  to 
whinny,  the  Britishers  would  attack  im- 
mediately, when  fifty  against  a  thousand 
would  stand  small  chance  of  escape. 

It  was  nightfall  before  the  first  of  the 
red-coated  column  appeared,  and  Percy  and 
I,  standing  side  by  side,  gripping  our 
horses'  muzzles,  saw  the  formidable  63d 
Regulars  as  they  came  up  with  swinging 
stride  even  more  than  a  thousand  strong, 
and  marched  by  our  place  of  concealment 
with  never  a  thought  that  the  very  prey 
for  whom  they  were  seeking  might  be 
near  at  hand. 

My  heart  literally  stood  still  for  the  time 
being,  because  even  a  lad  unused  to  war- 
fare knew  beyond  a  question  that  should 
these  men  learn  where  we  were  hidden 
the  end  would  come  speedily. 


THE  RETREAT.  155 

I  hardly  dared  to  breathe,  lest  by  so  do- 
ing an  alarm  be  given,  and  yet  although 
fifty  horses  were  concealed  either  side  the 
road,  not  a  sound  was  heard  to  betoken 
their  whereabouts. 

The  regiment  marched  by;  then  came 
the  Tory  command  under  Major  Harrison, 
which  I  believe  was  even  more  in  numbers 
than  Major  Wemyss'  men,  and  after  them, 
more  than  a  thousand  yards  in  the  rear, 
twenty  Tory  stragglers. 

The  major,  my  uncle,  was  stationed  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  road  from  where 
Percy  and  I  stood,  and  we  had  no  knowl- 
edge whatsoever  of  his  movements. 

When  these  rascally  traitors  to  their 
country  lounged  along,  evidently  believ- 
ing themselves  safe  because  of  the  large 
force  in  advance,  the  thought  came  into 
my  mind  that  it  would  be  a  proper  end- 
ing to  our  reconnoissance  if  we  set  upon 
them  suddenly. 

This  idea  had  no  more  than  come  into 
my  mind  when  we  heard  a  crashing  noise 


156  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

from  the  opposite  side  of  the  road,  and 
immediately  the  major  appeared,  followed 
by  all  who  had  remained  with  him,  and 
we  needed  no  other  signal. 

In  a  twinkling,  as  it  were,  the  Tory 
stragglers  were  surrounded,  and  perhaps  no 
more  than  sixty  seconds  elapsed  before 
each  man  of  them  had  been  disarmed 
and  was  mounted  behind  one  of  our  troop. 

Then  it  can  readily  be  understood  that 
we  put  spurs  to  our  horses,  striking  through 
the  wooded  country  to  the  left  in  order  to 
circle  around  the  main  body  of  the  enemy, 
and  the  frightened  prisoners  had  an  op- 
portunity of  knowing  that  we  raised  good 
stock  in  Williamsburg  district,  for  in  less 
than  an  hour  we  were  come  to  the  Sinclair 
plantation. 

The  information  for  which  we  had  sent 
was  gained,  and,  in  addition,  we  had  twrenty 
disconsolate-looking  prisoners,  who  by  this 
time  had  come  to  know  that  the  Cause  of 
freedom  in  the  Carolinas  was  not  yet  wholly 
crushed  out. 


THE  RETREAT.  15V 

The  renegades  were  herded  into  a  stable, 
and,  to  the  surprise  of  us  all,  no  order  was 
given  to  dismount. 

That  portion  of  the  force  which  had  been 
left  behind  with  General  Marion  was  in  the 
saddle  when  we  came  up,  and  there  they 
remained,  as  did  we,  while  our  officers, 
withdrawing  to  a  clump  of  live  oaks  near 
at  hand,  entered  into  what  proved  to  be  a 
long,  and  certainly  was  a  serious,  consulta- 
tion. 

We  knew  full  well  that  our  future  move- 
ments were  being  decided  upon,  and  al- 
though there  were  more  than  two  thous- 
and armed  men  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
searching  for  us,  who  would  soon  be  joined 
by  Tarleton's  Legion,  I  believe  there  was 
not  one  of  our  brigade  who  did  not  hope 
most  certainly  that  we  would  be  pitted 
against  them,  desperate  though  the  odds 
were. 

Not  until  an  hour  before  sunrise  was  the 
consultation  come  to  an  end,  and  then  came 
the  long  expected  order  to  advance. 


158  WITH  THE  SWAMP  POX. 

"  Ay ;  but  in  what  direction  ? "  Gavin 
Witherspoon,  who  was  by  my  side,  asked 
in  a  low  tone,  and  the  answer  came  later, 
when  General  Marion  said : 

"  My  men,  it  is  the  opinion  of  all  in  com- 
mand that  we  return  to  Lynch's  Creek,  and 
I  ask  you  to  have  confidence  in  us  who  have 
arrived  at  this  decision,  which  is  as  painful 
to  those  who  made  it  as  to  those  who  hear 
it.  Nothing  can  be  accomplished  by  stay- 
ing here  where  capture  or  death  must  in- 
evitably result ;  but  so  long  as  we  remain 
at  liberty,  so  long  will  the  Cause  live,  and 
I  promise  you  that  however  unpleasant  and 
apparently  disastrous  may  seem  this  move, 
you  shall  yet  have  many  opportunities  of 
striking  at  the  British  uniform.  I  ask 
that  you  follow,  as  you  have  done  since  I 
came  among  you,  cheerfully  and  without 
question,  believing  that  this  step  has  not 
been  decided  upon  without  due  delibera- 
tion." 

"  We  are  on  the  retreat,"  Gavin  Wither- 
spoon said  to  me  as  the  general  ceased 


THE   RETREAT.  159 

speaking,  and  the  words  were  no  more  than 
uttered  before  a  groan  was  heard  through- 
out the  entire  line. 

I  here  set  it  down,  repeating  the  words 
that  these  brave  fellows,  only  an  hundred 
and  fifty  strong,  could  not  repress  their 
sorrow  because  at  this  moment,  when  we 
were  threatened  by  over  two  thousand 
armed  men,  one-half  of  them  well-trained 
troops,  the  word  had  been  given  to  fall  back. 

It  is  proof  of  the  spirit  of  patriotism 
which  animated  the  hearts  of  those  in 
Williamsburg  district,  that  they  were  sad- 
dened only  because  of  not  being  brought 
immediately  face  to  face  with  an  enemy 
which  could  conquer  them  by  sheer  force 
of  numbers. 

If  the  cause  of  liberty  was  crushed  out 
elsewhere,  it  yet  lived  and  burned  with  an 
ardent  flame  in  the  hearts  of  those  who 
had  pledged  themselves  to  follow  General 
Marion,  and  among  these  patriots  Percy 
Sumter  and  myself  had  the  good  fortune 
to  be  numbered. 


160  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

Well,  we  set  out  on  what  can  be  called 
none  other  than  a  retreat,  for  once  we  left 
the  enemy  behind  us  there  was  no  other 
name  for  the  move.  The  old  camp  at 
Lynch's  Creek  was  the  direct  road  to  North 
Carolina,  and  the  king's  forces  were  hunt- 
ing for  us  in  Williamsburg  district. 

Now  let  it  be  fully  understood  what  all 
that  meant,  and  then  in  years  to  come  no 
man  may  wonder  why  we  whose  homes 
were  hereabout  had  sadness  in  our  hearts. 

For  the  first  time  since  we  had  risen  in 
our  might  against  the  king's  oppression, 
were  the  people  of  Williamsburg  and  of 
Pedee  to  be  left  unprotected.  Until  this 
moment  the  enemy  had  never  appeared 
in  our  neighborhood  with  such  a  force  as 
enabled  them  to  over-run  it  without  fear 
of  opposition. 

Once  we  were  gone  our  people  must  suf- 
fer the  tender  mercies  of  the  Britishers 
and  the  Tories  who  had  in  other  parts  of 
the  Carolinas,  wherever  they  penetrated, 
written  their  names  in  blood  and  in  flame. 


THE   RETREAT.  161 

Heretofore  the  James  family,  standing 
at  the  head  of  those  who  served  the  Cause, 
had  kept  this  section  of  the  Carolina  col- 
onies free  from  the  invader.  Now  they 
were  to  leave  it — to  abandon  it — while 
there  were  yet  two  thousand  enemies  in 
the  district  with  more  to  come,  and  know- 
ing full  well  that  should  they  ever  return 
again  it  would  be  to  find  their  houses  smok- 
ing ruins,  their  wives  and  children  home- 
less and  wandering.  It  was  to  leave  behind 
all  that  was  dear,  and  all  that  was  sacred 
in  order  that  the  flame  of  freedom  might, 
although  burning  feebly,  yet  be  un- 
quenched. 

Even  if  Percy  and  I  were  yet  lads,  we 
were  full  grown  in  the  knowledge  of  what 
had  been  and  what  would  come,  therefore, 
but  in  a  lesser  degree,  of  course,  were  we 
bowed  down  by  sorrow  as,  setting  our 
faces  in  that  direction  which  would  lead 
us  away  from  home,  we  allowed  the  steeds 
to  make  their  way  at  such  pace  as  pleased 
them. 

16 


162  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

No  man  set  spur  on  that  ride ;  no  man 
urged  his  horse  forward,  for  it  was  as  if  we 
were  held  back  by  chains,  and  little  wonder. 

At  the  time  this  seemed  to  us  to  be  a 
shameful  march ;  but  now  I  can  look  back 
upon  it  and  realize  how  necessary  it  was — 
can  understand  that  He  who  rules  the 
destinies  of  nations  had  willed  that,  like 
the  children  of  Israel,  we  should  wander 
through  the  desert  a  certain  time  before 
we  were  come  to  the  Promised  Land. 

Now  having  set  down  all  that  was  in  our 
hearts  at  this  time,  let  me  hurry  over  such 
portion  of  the  story,  for  it  is  not  pleasant 
to  dwell  upon  it. 

We  arrived  at  Lynch's  Creek  that  eve- 
ning, and  here  we  were  halted  only  so  long 
as  was  necessary  to  make  the  arrangements 
already  decided  upon  between  our  leaders. 

Those  who  had  families  were  requested, 
when  we  had  come  into  the  old  camp,  to 
leave  the  brigade  and  return  home,  there 
to  remain  until  such  time  as  they  might 
be  again  summoned. 


THE   RETREAT.  163 

This  was  done  in  order  that  we  might 
move  more  secretly,  and  also  that  those 
who  were  needed  at  home  should  be  en- 
abled to  give  to  their  loved  ones  at  least  the 
last  words  which  might  be  spoken  on  earth. 

Within  an  hour  our  force  was  reduced  to 
sixty  men,  and  yet  there  remained  among 
us  every  member  of  the  James  family — a 
fact  which  went  far  toward  cheering  Percy 
and  I  in  this  retreat. 

Five  were  there,  John,  "William,  Gavin, 
Robert  and  James,  and  each  had  a  family ; 
yet  none  would  desert  the  leader  in  whom 
they  had  every  confidence — none  would  de- 
sert the  Cause,  although  it  was  come  so  low. 
Yet  for  the  honor  of  those  who  dropped  out, 
it  must  be  said  that  they  were  ready  at  the 
first  signal  to  rejoin  the  brigade. 

Gavin  Witherspoon  had  a  wife  and  five 
children,  the  youngest  eight  years  old.  To 
him  I  said,  when,  man  after  man,  raising 
his  hat  in  adieu,  departed  with  an  expres- 
sion on  his  face  which  told  of  the  sadness 
in  his  heart : 


164  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

"  It  is  for  you  to  go  also,  Gavin.  Such  as 
Percy  and  I  can  well  be  spared,  even  though 
we  leave  behind  a  mother  whom  we  love  ; 
but  she  has  kinsfolk  who  will  comfort 
her." 

"My  family  are  alone  in  the  district, 
Robert  Sumter,  and  yet  they  will  be  com- 
forted, knowing  that  I  am  doing  my  duty 
as  a  man." 

"  Yet  every  one  should  care  for  his  own, 
and  you  can  well  be  spared  when  this 
movement  is  no  more  than  a  retreat." 

"  Ay,  so  I  may  be,"  the  old  man  replied 
emphatically,  and  in  such  a  tone  as  caused 
me  to  grip  him  heartily  by  the  hand.  "  So 
I  may  be,  and  yet  it  would  shame  me  to  go, 
because  now  has  come  the  hour  of  our  ad- 
versity— the  time  when  all  hope  seems  to 
have  fled ;  but  my  desire  to  free  the  colonies 
from  the  yoke  of  the  king  is  as  strong  as 
when  I  first  set  out,  nigh  on  to  four  years 
ago.  I  shall  remain  in  the  saddle,  Robert 
Sumter,  until  we  have  won  that  toward 
which  we  set  our  faces,  or  a  British  bullet 


THE   RETREAT.  165 

has  brought  me  low,  and  in  the  doing  find 
happiness  for  myself  as  well  as  give  com- 
fort to  those  who  look  upon  me  for  an 
example." 

It  was  a  brave  man  who  spoke  those 
words,  and  I  said  then  in  my  heart  that 
never  again  would  I  allow  another  to  utter 
aught  against  Gavin  Witherspoon — never 
again  would  I  allow  Percy  or  myself  to 
laugh  at  his  oddities  or  his  whimsical 
fancies. 

Freshly  mounted  were  we  who  left 
Lynch's  Creek  at  sunset  on  the  day  when 
we  were  arrived  at  the  old  camp,  after  those 
who  went  insisted  on  bringing  to  us  their 
best  horses  and  the  major  part  of  all  their 
store  of  ammunition,  because,  in  so  doing, 
it  seemed  as  if  they  were  contributing  in 
some  slight  degree  to  sustaining  the  Cause 
which  they  had  long  since  despaired  of 
seeing  successful. 

Dark  days  indeed  were  these  which  had 
come  upon  us ;  but  they  were  needed,  as 
was  afterwards  proven,  to  strengthen  our 


166  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

hearts  for  the  future  trial,  which  led  us  on 
to  victory  when  defeat  was  seemingly  al- 
ready upon  us. 

From  the  hour  of  leaving  Lynch's  Creek 
until  we  were  arrived  in  North  Carolina, 
at  Amy's  Mill  on  Downing  Creek,  we  never 
drew  rein,  save  to  halt  that  the  tired  steeds 
might  find  rest,  and  at  this  last  encamp- 
ment, we  remained  four  and  twenty 
hours. 

From  there  a  detachment  of  ten  was 
sent  back  as  scouts  to  gain  intelligence  of 
what  might  be  going  on  in  the  lower  Car- 
olinas,  and  to  cheer  those  of  our  number 
who  had  been  left  behind,  in  order  that  the 
fire  of  patriotism  might  be  kept  burning. 

Then  once  more  we  took  up  the  line  of 
retreat,  holding  it  until  we  were  come  to 
the  east  side  of  White  Marsh,  near  the 
head  of  the  Waccamaw  Eiver,  where  my 
uncle,  the  major,  told  us  three  comrades 
that  a  permanent  camp  would  be  es- 
tablished. 


BLACK  MINGO  SWAMP.  16f 


CHAPTER  VIIL 

BLACK  MINGO  SWAMP. 

A  PROTRACTED  halt  to  men  whose  hearts 
are  heavy  is  not  a  desirable  boon,  and  so 
we  from  Williamsburg  soon  discovered. 

The  first  idea  in  our  minds,  when  we 
were  come  into  camp  and  began  to  build 
shelters  for  ourselves,  each  after  his  own 
liking,  was  that  we  could  enjoy  this  respite 
from  a  roving  life,  where  it  was  necessary 
to  be  constantly  on  the  alert  against 
danger. 

Once  we  had  really  settled  down,  how- 
ever, and  there  was  nothing  of  especial 
moment  with  which  to  occupy  our  atten- 
tion, the  hours  moved  so  slowly  as  to  seem 
like  unto  days. 

At  first  we  three  comrades  spent  a  goodly 
portion  of  the  time  speculating  among  our- 


168  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

selves  as  to  how  long  we  might  be  able  to 
hold  the  field  against  the  numberless  men 
which  the  king  was  sending  in  pursuit; 
but  after  a  time  we  were  wearied  with  such 
occupation,  and  began  to  long  for  active 
duty. 

This  isolation  and  sense  of  perfect  security 
grew  irksome,  and  there  was  not  a  man 
among  the  small  detachment  who  would 
not  gladly  have  faced  a  foe  of  five  times 
our  number,  in  order  to  shake  off  the  leth- 
argy which  began  to  creep  over  him  after 
eight  and  forty  hours  had  passed. 

On  the  fourth  day  after  our  having  settled 
down  in  this  encampment,  Major  James 
and  Captain  Mouzon  were  sent  back  into 
the  lower  Carolinas  to  make  certain  those 
who  were  enlisted  in  the  Williamsburg 
brigade  held  steadfast  to  their  pledges,  and 
the  absence  of  our  uncle  was  to  Percy  and 
I  like  a  great  calamity.  We  looked  upon 
him  not  only  as  the  head  of  the  family  ; 
but  as  a  true  friend  and  companion-in-arms 
upon  whom  we  could  rely  under  every  cir- 


BLACK  MINGO  SWAMP.  169 

cumstance,  and  although  not  thrown  much 
in  his  company  because  of  the  position  we 
occupied  in  the  force,  the  knowledge  of  his 
being  near  at  hand,  did  we  need  his  advice, 
was  in  itself  a  pleasurable  satisfaction 
which  we  failed  fully  to  realize  until  he 
was  absent. 

When  a  week  passed  and  we  were  "  rust- 
ing out,"  as  Gavin  Witherspoon  said,  it 
seemed  absolutely  necessary  we  have  some 
employment,  and  the  old  man  said  to  me 
one  morning  while  Percy  was  making 
ready  the  breakfast : 

"  Three  men  have  already  been  sent  out 
as  scouts  since  we  came  into  this  camp, 
and  such  duty  is  necessary  because  it 
stands  to  reason  that  the  Tories  will  make 
every  effort  to  discover  the  general's  hid- 
ing-place." 

"  Ay,  all  you  have  said  is  true,  Gavin 
Witherspoon,"  I  replied;  "but  of  what 
avail  is  it  to  us  since  the  general  calls  upon 
others  to  act  as  scouts,  forgetting  that  we 
readily  performed  such  duty  when  it  was 


170  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

an  hundred  times  more  dangerous  than 
at  present?" 

"  This  is  how  it  may  avail,"  the  old  man 
said  in  the  tone  of  one  who  defies  contra- 
diction. "  You  shall  go  this  morning  to 
General  Marion  and  offer  the  services  of 
us  three,  promising  that  we  will  act  as 
scouts  so  long  as  the  detachment  remains 
here." 

"  But  if  he  refuses  to  detail  us  for  such 
work?" 

"  Then  pluck  up  sufficient  courage  to  re- 
mind him  that  we  went  gladly,  when, 
perchance,  every  man  in  the  command 
would  have  hesitated.  By  so  doing  you 
may  make  him  understand  he  owes  some- 
thing to  us  three." 

At  first  thought  I  was  not  willing  to 
browbeat  our  commander,  for  it  appeared 
to  me  that  what  Gavin  Witherspoon  had 
proposed  was  little  less  than  an  attempt 
to  bully  the  general  into  acceding  to  our 
desires;  but  the  longer  I  considered  the 
matter  the  more  reasonable  did  it  seem 


BLACK  MINGO  SWAMP. 

that  we  should  be  sent  out,  rather  than 
forced  to  remain  in  camp  where  our  pres- 
ence was  of  no  possible  benefit. 

By  going  we  should  take  away  nothing 
of  value  from  the  encampment,  and  it 
might  be  possible  fortune  would  so  favor 
us  that  we  could  render  some  signal  assis- 
tance, even  though  it  did  not  seem  probable 
there  was  any  force  of  the  enemy  in  that 
vicinity. 

Therefore  it  was  that  I  did  as  Gavin 
Witherspoon  requested,  and  to  our  great 
surprise  the  general  not  only  willingly 
gave  his  consent,  but  said  it  pleasured  him 
much  that  we  should  so  desire  to  serve  the 
Cause. 

"While  we  remain  here  waiting  such 
turn  in  the  tide  of  affairs  as  will  give  us 
an  opportunity  to  serve  the  colonists,  it  is 
well  to  know  thoroughly  all  the  country 
and  its  inhabitants,"  he  said  in  conclusion. 
"  Therefore,  so  that  you  return  to  camp 
and  report  once  in  every  four  and  twenty 
hours,  you  not  only  have  my  permission ; 


WITH   THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

but  will  lay  me  under  obligation  by 
acting  the  part  of  scouts,  spies  or  whatso- 
ever you  choose  to  call  the  officer." 

It  can  well  be  understood  that  we  did 
not  linger  long  after  this  interview. 

In  less  than  an  hour  we  three,  provided 
with  such  store  of  provisions  as  would  be 
our  portion  until  the  following  day,  and 
carrying  an  ample  amount  of  ammunition, 
set  out  with  no  idea  whatsoever  as  to  where 
chance  might  lead  us,  save  that  it  seemed 
wisest  to  travel  toward  the  south,  for  in 
that  direction  lay  home  and  friends. 

Gavin  Witherspoon  at  once  took  com- 
mand of  the  party  by  proceeding  in  ad- 
vance, and  we,  having  good  cause  to  trust 
him  implicitly,  were  more  than  willing  to 
follow  as  he  should  propose. 

There  was  no  thought  in  our  minds  that 
a  single  enemy  might  be  near  at  hand. 

The  only  possibility  counted  upon  was 
that  we  should  run  across  one  or  more 
Tories  seeking  to  find  the  encampment,  and 
thus,  perchance,  prevent  discovery. 


BLACK  MINGO  SWAMP.  173 

Thus  it  was  we  proceeded  with  a  certain 
amount  of  caution,  although  not  deeming 
it  necessary. 

Until  late  in  the  afternoon  we  traveled 
along  the  banks  of  the  Waccamaw  River, 
our  faces  turned  toward  Williamsburg,  and 
then  Percy  said,  as  he  threw  himself  at  full 
length  by  the  side  of  the  stream  : 

"  We  are  come  on  a  mission  which  can- 
not bear  fruit,  and  it  makes  little  difference 
whether  we  halt  here,  or  five  miles  further 
on.  Having  remained  so  long  in  camp 
without  exercise,  my  legs  tire  quickly,  and 
I  propose  to  rest  for  the  night." 

We  were  ready  to  gratify  him  in  this 
respect,  the  more  so  because  all  of  us  were 
in  much  the  same  condition,  and  therefore 
it  was  that  our  scout  came  to  an  end,  for 
the  time  being,  hardly  more  than  fifteen 
miles  from  the  starting-point. 

Surely  we  had  no  reason  to  grumble 
against  fortune  on  this  our  first  visit  in  the 
Upper  Carolinas. 

Such  food  as  we  had  was  ready  cooked, 


174:  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

and  in  order  to  make  camp  it  was  only 
necessary  to  lie  down  among  the  bushes, 
where  for  a  time  all  slept  as  we  had  not 
done  during  the  time  of  idleness. 

The  sun  was  within  an  hour  of  setting 
when  I  awakened  and  found  my  compan- 
ions lying  in  restful  attitudes,  but  with 
open  eyes. 

They  also  had  satisfied  the  desire  for 
slumber. 

How  it  chanced  that  we  three  remained 
there  without  speaking  one  to  another,  I 
know  not ;  but  so  we  did,  strangely  enough, 
and  because  of  our  unwitting  silence  were 
we  enabled  to  accomplish  that  which  had 
seemed  improbable. 

Human  voices  in  the  distance,  but  sound- 
ing nearer  and  nearer,  attracted  our  at- 
tention, causing  all  three  to  rise  and 
seek  better  concealment,  when  we  saw 
through  the  foliage  a  party  of  seven 
armed  men  coming  up  the  bank  of  the 
stream  from  the  south,  and  proceeding  with 
a  certain  degree  of  caution  which  told  that 


BLACK  MINGO   SWAMP.  175 

they  were  in  search  of  something  or  some 
one. 

Although  not  absolutely  certain,  we  felt 
reasonably  sure  these  travelers  were  ene- 
mies, and  well  we  might,  considering  the 
fact  that  nowhere  between  here  and  the 
Carolinas  was  it  known  that  any  friends  of 
the  Cause  had  habitation. 

When  the  party  passed  where  we  were 
in  hiding,  they  had  ceased  conversation ; 
therefore  we  had  no  means  of  determining 
who  they  were,  save  that  all  wore  portions 
of  a  Britisher's  accouterments,  while  our 
friends  still  held  to  the  powder-horn  and 
shot-pouch. 

Not  until  they  were  lost  to  view  in  the 
distance  did  either  of  us  speak,  and  then 
it  was  Percy  who  said,  much  as  if  he  had 
made  an  important  discovery : 

"They  are  Tories,  and  searching  for 
General  Marion's  encampment." 

"  I  allow  all  that  to  be  true,  lad,  and  now 
what  may  be  our  duty?"  Gavin  Wither-- 
spoon  asked. 


176  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

"  To  learn  where  they  halt  for  the  night, 
and  then  carry  the  information  back  to 
camp,"  my  brother  said  heedlessly,  for  in- 
deed that  seemed  to  be  the  only  course  left 
for  us. 

"There  is  in  my  mind  a  better  plan, 
lad,  and,  if  it  so  be  you  two  are  will- 
ing to  take  the  chances,  I  venture  to 
predict  we  will  carry  yonder  gentle- 
men before  General  Marion,  instead  of 
hastening  ahead  to  tell  him  they  are 
coming." 

"  Do  you  mean  that  we  three  are  to  at- 
tack seven  ? "  Percy  asked,  and  the  old 
man  said  with  a  smile : 

"  I  have  seen  both  you  lads  ride  gallantly 
forward  when  it  was  a  case  of  twenty 
against  one,  and  yet  you  hesitate  with  the 
odds  not  much  more  than  double  against 
us?" 

"Percy  does  not  hesitate,"  I  replied, 
jealous  lest  there  should  be  a  question  as 
to  the  courage  of  one  of  our  family.  "  So 
that  it  is  in  your  mind,  Gavin  Witherspoon, 


BLACK  MINGO   SWAMP.  177 

we  will  agree  to  anything  that  has  the 
faintest  hope  of  success." 

"  This  is  my  plan  :  Yonder  strangers 
are  doubtless  enemies  ;  but  if  they  prove  to 
be  friends,  then  have  we  done  them  no 
harm  by  carrying  out  that  which  is  in  my 
mind.  We  will  follow  so  far  in  the  rear 
that  there  is  no  danger  of  being  discovered 
until  they  camp  for  the  night,  and  then  it 
will  go  hard  indeed  if  we  fail  to  find  an 
opportunity  for  making  them  prisoners." 

I  did  not  agree  with  Gavin  Witherspoon 
in  his  belief  that  we  might  readily  make 
prisoners  of  seven  men ;  yet  was  I  well 
pleased  to  venture  the  attempt,  believ- 
ing something  of  good  might  come,  even 
though  we  failed  in  the  purpose.  It  was 
seldom  we  who  held  true  to  the  colonies 
had  an  opportunity  of  striking  even  so 
slight  a  blow  as  this  when  the  odds  were 
no  more  than  two  against  one,  and  it  would 
have  been  folly  for  us  to  have  refused  such 
a  chance. 

Percy,  once  the  plan  was  made  plain,  did 

4 


178  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

not  consider  it  necessary  to  say  whether 
he  agreed  to  it  or  not. 

To  his  mind,  all  who  were  acquainted 
with  him  should  know  he  would  favor  any 
plan,  and  there  was  little  need  for  Gavin 
Witherspoon  to  go  further  into  details  than 
he  had  already  done. 

"  It  is  such  work  as  this  for  which  we 
left  the  camp,"  Percy  said  quietly,  "and 
if  the  strangers  are  friends,  we  can  atone 
for  any  rough  handling  by  showing  them 
the  way  to  General  Marion's  camp." 

This,  so  nearly  as  I  can  repeat  it  after 
these  many  years,  was  all  that  passed  be- 
tween us  regarding  the  venture,  and  we  set 
off  on  the  trail  without  further  delay. 

There  is  less  difficulty  in  successfully 
stalking  a  man  than  a  deer,  and  this  last 
had  both  Percy  and  I  performed  time  and 
time  again  until  it  seemed  .to  us  like  a 
simple  task.  Therefore  it  was  that  Gavin 
Witherspoon  had  no  green  hands  to  aid 
him  in  the  work  he  had  cut  out. 

Keeping  so  far  in  the  rear  as  to  hear  the 


BLACK  MINGO   SWAMP.  179 

noise  as  they  forced  their  way  through  the 
underbrush,  and  yet  not  so  near  that  we 
might  by  any  possibility  be  seen,  the  three 
of  us  followed  this  little  company  who 
might  be  friends,  but  were  probably  ene- 
mies, until  the  going  down  of  the  sun,  when 
we  knew  from  such  sounds  as  came  to  us 
that  they  had  halted. 

Now  it  was  only  a  matter  of  waiting, 
which,  under  almost  any  circumstances, 
is  the  most  difficult  task  to  perform  pa- 
tiently ;  yet  every  lad  who  has  hunted  wild 
turkeys  is  well  schooled  in  such  work,  and 
it  can  safely  be  said  that  we  did  not  risk  a 
failure  by  being  over-eager. 

The  men,  although  having  advanced 
with  but  little  caution,  realized  the  fact  that 
there  might  be  enemies  in  the  vicinity,  for 
they  forbore  building  a  camp-fire,  and  this 
fact  rendered  our  work  rather  more  difficult 
than  it  otherwise  would  have  been. 

After  it  was  certain  they  had  settled 
down  for  the  night  we  stole  nearer  and 
nearer,  until  it  was  possible  to  hear  the 


180  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

conversation  carried  on  in  an  ordinary  tone, 
and  then  we  remained  motionless  until  the 
time  for  action  should  arrive. 

When  we  were  come  thus  far  I  believed 
we  should  hear  such  words  as  would  declare 
whether  these  seven  men  were  friends  or 
enemies,  and  in  this  I  was  not  disappointed, 
although  we  failed  to  learn  anything  of 
importance. 

While  eating  supper  one  of  them,  in  the 
course  of  the  ordinary  conversation  con- 
cerning the  tramp  of  the  day,  remarked : 

"There  is  no  probability  we  shall  find 
any  of  the  rebels  during  the  next  two  or 
three  days'  march,  for  as  yet  we  are  among 
those  who  remain  loyal  to  the  king." 

The  words  as  written  above  were  all  we 
had  to  give  us  a  clue  to  the  character  of 
these  strangers ;  but  they  were  sufficient. 

We  knew  now,  as  well  as  if  these  men 
had  explained  at  length,  that  they  were 
in  search  of  General  Marion's  encampment, 
and  from  that  instant,  answering  for  Percy 
as  well  as  Gavin  Witherspoon,  I  know  that 


BLACK  MINGO   SWAMP.  181 

the  three  of  us  counted  on  making  a  cap- 
ture at  whatsoever  hazard. 

Not  until  fully  an  hour  after  the  men 
had  stretched  themselves  upon  the  ground 
and  the  last  word  was  spoken  between 
them,  did  we  make  a  move  toward  nearing 
the  encampment. 

Then  it  was  that  I  would  have  gone  for- 
ward, risking  the  danger  with  the  belief 
that  my  life  had  better  be  made  the  price, 
rather  than  either  of  the  others,  when  the 
old  man  laid  his  hand  on  mine  as  he 
whispered  softly  in  my  ear  : 

"  It  is  for  me  to  go,  first,  because  I  have 
had  more  experience  in  such  work,  and 
again,  on  the  plea  that  I  can  best  be  spared 
to  the  Cause  if  either  of  us  must  pay  a 
penalty  for  leading  in  the  attack." 

Although  there  may  be  the  twang  of  a 
braggart  in  the  words,  still  must  it  be  set 
down  that  I  tried  to  restrain  Gavin  With- 
erspoon,  but  without  success. 

When  I  would  have  pushed  him  away 
he  held  me  back,  and  it  seemed  impossi- 


182  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

ble  to  advance  without  such  a  squabble  as 
would  have  given  the  alarm. 

I  was  absolutely  forced  to  let  him  take 
the  lead  ;  but  Percy  and  I  kept  close  upon 
his  heels. 

When,  after  creeping  so  cautiously  that 
not  a  twig  snapped  beneath  our  weight,  we 
had  come  to  the  small  cleared  place  on 
the  bank  of  the  stream  which  the  men 
had  selected  as  an  encampment,  we  saw 
that  they  were  sleeping  near  the  foot  of  a 
pine  tree  that  had  been  overturned  by  the 
wind. 

The  overhanging  mass  of  roots  formed 
a  certain  sort  of  shelter  which  served  to 
protect  them  from  the  dew. 

Their  rifles  were  stacked  against  one  of 
the  branches  at  a  distance  of  fully  three 
yards  from  where  they  lay,  and,  as  a  mat- 
ter of  course,  it  was  necessary  to  first  se- 
cure possession  of  these. 

Gavin  did  his  work,  as  we  knew  beyond 
a  question  he  could  do,  and  when  he  raised 
himself  beside  the  weapons,  we  two,  Percy 


As  Gavin  gathered  up  the  weapons,  Percy  and  I  called  upon  the  sleepers  to 
surrender.— Page  188. 

With  the  Swamp  Fox. 


BLACK  MINGO   SWAMP.  183 

and  I,  sprang  to  our  feet,  calling  upon  the 
sleepers  to  surrender. 

They  had  no  other  choice  than  to  obey, 
and  sheepish  indeed  were  these  seven  after 
we  had  drawn  them  up  in  line,  when  they 
understood  how  small  was  the  force  which 
had  taken  them  prisoners. 

Yet  were  they  reasonably  good  men,  so 
far  as  Tories  go,  inasmuch  as  no  one  spoke 
a  word,  all  refusing  to  answer  the  ques- 
tions which  we  asked. 

So  far  as  we  ourselves  were  concerned 
this  made  little  difference,  and  without  de- 
lay, although  they  as  well  as  ourselves  were 
fatigued,  most  likely,  by  the  long  tramp, 
we  began  the  return  tos  General  Marion's 
camp. 

As  it  proved  later,  our  capture  was  of 
great  importance,  even  though  the  prison- 
ers stoutly  refused  to  give  information 
when  the  general  question  them,  for  their 
presence  showed  that  Tarleton  was  hot 
after  us,  knowing  somewhat  of  our  where- 
abouts, and  the  time  was  come  when  we 


184  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

musi  retreat  yet  further,  or  return  to  the 
task  of  showing  the  invaders  that  the 
spirit  of  liberty  in  these  southern  colonies 
was  not  yet  crushed  out. 

Now  let  me  set  down  here  what  we  had 
learned  since  the  day  when  we  set  free 
the  one  hundred  and  fifty  Continentals 
who  refused,  save  in  the  case  of  the  three 
true  men,  to  join  our  force. 

Major  Wemyss  had  marched  for  seventy 
miles  from  Nelson's  Ferry,  straight  across 
the  district  of  Williamsburg,  desolating 
a  path  fifteen  miles  in  breadth  after  such 
merciless  fashion  that  one  would  have 
said  he  had  been  taught  in  the  schools  of 
the  savage. 

All  the  dwellings  on  his  way,  save  those 
habited  by  well-known  Tories,  were  given 
to  the  flames  ;  the  people  were  plundered 
of  their  possessions  ;  such  property  as  the 
troops  could  not  use  was  destroyed,  while 
the  animals  were  wantonly  shot  and  al- 
lowed to  rot  where  they  fell. 

Those  who  were  thus  plundered  saw  all 


BLACK  MINGO  SWAMP.  185 

their  belongings  swept  away  by  fire,  and 
they,  even  to  the  women  and  children,  were 
held  forcibly  back  to  prevent  them  from 
saving  the  smallest  article  of  value. 

Men  were  hanged  without  semblance  of 
trial,  and  when  their  loved  ones  pleaded 
for  mercy,  the  British  soldiery  rode  them 
down. 

All  the  time  it  seemed  almost  as  if  the 
good  God  had  forsaken  the  colonies,  and  yet 
we  came  to  know  that  all  these  acts  of 
barbarous  cruelty  were  necessary  to  arouse 
our  people  from  the  fear  and  the  de- 
spondency into  which  they  had  fallen. 

It  did  arouse  them. 

It  forced  men  into  the  ranks  of  the 
patriots  who  otherwise  would  have  waited 
quietly  by  until  the  colonies  or  the  king 
should  have  proven  a  right  to  the 
country. 

Within  two  days  from  the  time  the  seven 
scouts  were  taken  prisoners  and  we  had 
arrived  at  our  encampment,  the  hour  was 
come  when  we  should  return,  and  among 


186  WITH  THE  SWAMP   FOX. 

those  on  the  banks  of  the  Waccamaw  who 
held  steadfast  to  General  Marion,  there 
was  no  one  who  did  not  rejoice  because  the 
moment  for  action  was  at  hand. 

Taking  the  prisoners  with  us,  we  set  out 
on  a  forced  march,  which  was  continued 
night  and  day  until  we  had  seen  the  sun 
rise  and  set  three  times  while  we  yet  re- 
mained in  the  saddle,  save  when  it  was 
absolutely  necessary  to  give  rest  to  our 
steeds. 

Then  we  were  come  to  Lynch's  Creek 
once  more — to  the  old  camp — where  we 
found  all  those  who  had  waited  behind 
until  the  signal  should  be  given,  with  the 
addition  of  more  than  two  hundred  new 
recruits — men  who  had  been  driven  by  the 
cruelty  of  the  king's  hirelings  into  the 
ranks  of  those  who  would  save  their 
country. 

More  than  this,  those  whom  we  met 
gave  information  that  Major  Wemyss  had 
retired  to  Georgetown,  wearied  with  chas- 
ing the  Swamp  Fox,  and  a  body  of  six 


BLACK  MINGO  SWAMP.  187 

hundred  well-armed  Tories  were  encamped 
near  Black  Mingo  Swamp,  fifteen  miles  be- 
low where  we  were  halted,  under  command 
of  Captain  John  Ball. 

Here  was  our  work  cut  out  for  us,  and 
like  the  true  patriot  and  ardent  soldier 
that  he  was,  General  Marion  gave  us  no 
cause  to  complain  of  hesitation  on  his  part. 

It  was  less  than  four  hours  from  the 
time  our  command  was  halted,  and  while 
yet  we  were  exchanging  greetings  with 
those  who  had  parted  from  us  so  many 
days  before,  that  our  commander,  calling 
the  men  in  a  body  around  him,  thus 
spoke  : 

"  Hardly  more  than  two  hours'  ride  from 
here  are  encanlped  a  force  of  these  ren- 
egades whom  we  call  Tories.  They  out- 
number us  slightly ;  but  even  though 
there  were  twice  as  many,  yet  I  believe 
you  who  have  served  so  gallantly  under 
me  since  I  came  into  the  Williamsburg 
district,  could  whip  them  in  the  open  field. 
We  are  told  that  recruits  are  flocking  from 


188  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

every  quarter  of  this  portion  of  the  colony 
to  join  us,  and  by  waiting  we  may'  double 
our  strength ;  yet  at  the  same  time  it  is 
possible  that  the  enemy  will  take  the  alarm 
and  flee.  I  propose  that  we  march  at  once, 
and  within  twenty-four  hours  from  the 
time  of  returning  to  the  scene  of  our 
labors  strike  such  a  blow  as  shall  give 
Tarleton  and  Wemyss  to  understand  that 
the  spirit  of  liberty  has  been  revived, 
rather  than  broken,  by  their  butcheries 
and  their  barbarities." 

A  ringing  cheer,  in  which  every  man 
participated,  was  the  answer  to  this  speech, 
and  more  than  that  no  commander  could 
need. 

Five  minutes  later,  it  could  not  have  been 
more,  we  were  in  the  saddle,  led  by  two 
sons  of  Captain  Waties,  who  had  already 
made  themselves  familiar  with  the  ap- 
proaches to  the  enemy's  camp,  and  Major 
James,  my  uncle,  said  as  he  reined  his  horse 
in  that  he  might  fall  back  between  Percy 
and  I  for  a  moment : 


BLACK   MINGO   SWAMP.  189 

"  Lads,  we  have  once  more  taken  up  the 
work,  and  with  such  a  commander  I  ven- 
ture to  predict  that  it  will  not  cease,  until 
the  last  adherent  to  the  Cause  has  yielded  up 
his  life,  or  we  have  brought  the  Carolinas 
out  from  under  the  sway  of  the  butchers." 

Gavin  Witherspoon,  who  had  been  riding 
slightly  in  the  rear,  spurred  his  horse  for- 
ward until  he  could  speak  with  my  uncle  : 

"  Whereabout  in  the  Black  Mingo  are 
these  scurvy  scoundrels  encamped  ? " 

"  At  Shepherd's  Ferry  on  the  south  side 
of  the  stream." 

"Then  we  must  cross  that  bridge  on 
planks,  if  I  mistake  not,  in  order  to  come 
at  them  ? " 

"  You  are  right,  Gavin." 

"  And  so  many  horsemen  as  we  number 
may  not  be  able  to  do  that  without  giving 
an  alarm." 

"It  is  a  chance  which  we  must  take. 
Whether  they  have  warning  of  our  ap- 
proach, or  not,  from  the  moment  we  reach 
the  causeway  our  advance  must  be  rapid." 


190  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

Then  my  uncle  rode  ahead  to  join  Gen- 
eral Marion,  and  we,  tired  and  sleepy  from 
being  long  in  the  saddle  without  proper 
hours  of  rest,  relapsed  into  silence  until  we 
were  arrived  at  this  same  bridge  of  which 
Gavin  had  spoken. 

It  was  midnight,  and  I  had  said  to  Percy 
that  all  the  odds  were  in  our  favor,  so  far 
as  taking  the  enemy  by  surprise  was  con- 
cerned, when  the  foremost  of  the  troops 
clattered  across  the  planks. 

Within  sixty  seconds  an  alarm  gun  was 
heard  from  the  Tory  encampment. 

Now  was  come  the  time,  and  the  first, 
when  we  two  lads  were  to  take  part  in  a  con- 
flict where  the  enemy  was  expecting  us. 

It  would  be  a  real  battle,  and  Percy  cried, 
clasping  my  hand  as  we  spurred  our  horses 
on  at  a  gallop  lest  we  be  left  in  the  rear  : 

"  We  may  perchance  come  to  our  death, 
Bob,  before  the  sun  shall  rise  again ;  but 
it  shall  never  be  said  that  we  failed  to  fol- 
low the  head  of  the  family  wherever  he 
plight  lead, ! " 


THE  BATTLE.  191 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  BATTLE. 

OF  the  battle,  short,  sharp  and  bloody, 
which  followed  after  we  had  given  the 
alarm  by  riding  across  the  plank  causeway 
into  Black  Mingo  Swamp,  I  can  set  down 
but  little  of  my  own  knowledge,  because 
Gavin  Witherspoon,  Percy  and  myself  were 
with  what  was  called,  for  the  time  being, 
the  "  cavalry,"  and  we  saw  only  that  por- 
tion of  the  engagement  which  fell  to  our 
share. 

However,  I  have  heard  my  uncle  tell  the 
story  again  and  again  in  these  words,  and 
there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  its  correctness, 
however  the  historian  of  the  future  may 
write  concerning  the  action  : 

"  After  the  alarm  gun  sounded,  prompt- 
ness and  swift  riding  became  as  necessary 


192  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

as  had  caution,  and  the  general  ordered 
his  men  to  follow  him  at  a  gallop  until  the 
force  reached  the  main  road,  about  three 
hundred  yards  from  where  it  was  known 
the  enemy  lay. 

"  Here,  with  the  exception  of  a  small 
number  who  were  to  act  as  cavalry,  the 
entire  command  dismounted.  A  body  of 
picked  men  under  Captain  Waties  was  or- 
dered down  the  road  to  attack  Dollard's 
house  where  the  Tories  had  been  posted. 
Two  companies  under  Hugh  Horry  were 
sent  to  the  right,  and  the  cavalry  to  the 
left,  to  support  the  attack,  Marion  himself 
bringing  up  the  rear. 

"  It  so  happened,  however,  that  the  Tories 
had  left  the  house  immediately  after  being 
alarmed,  and  were  strongly  drawn  up  in  a 
field  near  at  hand. 

"  Here  it  was  they  encountered  Horry 's 
command  on  the  advance,  with  a  fire  equal- 
ly severe  and  unexpected.  The  effect  was 
that  of  a  surprise  upon  the  colonists. 
Jlorry's  troops  fell  back  in  confusion,  but 


THE   BATTLE.  193 

were  promptly  rallied  and  brought  on  the 
charge. 

"  Immediately  the  battle  became  obsti- 
nate and  bloody  ;  but  the  appearance  of  the 
men  under  Waties,  who  came  up  suddenly 
in  the  rear  of  the  Tories,  soon  brought  it  to 
a  close.  Finding  themselves  between  two 
fires,  the  enemy  gave  way  in  all  directions 
to  flee  for  refuge  to  the  neighboring  swamp 
of  Black  Mingo." 

This  is  the  story  of  the  battle  as  I  have 
heard  my  uncle  tell  it  many  times. 

As  for  the  part  which  we  three  comrades 
played,  I  can  say  but  little  in  detail. 

When  the  advance  was  ordered  we  rode 
forward  eagerly,  for  inaction  had  whetted 
our  desire,  and  once  more  we  gave  the  ren- 
egade sons  of  the  colony  a  much  needed 
lesson. 

To  me  the  engagement  was  not  as  des- 
perate as  either  of  the  others  in  which  Percy 
and  I  had  taken  part,  for  at  no  time  did 
we  of  the  cavalry  come  to  a  hand-to-hand 
encounter  with  those  who  chose  to  serve  a 


194  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

king  whose  only  delight  was  in  oppression ; 
but  that  it  was  a  real  and  a  bloody  battle 
was  known  full  well  after  we  had  gained 
possession  of  the  field,  for  then  our  officers 
learned  from  such  prisoners  as  had  been 
taken,  that  the  enemy  outnumbered  us  two 
to  one,  and  of  all  those  engaged,  true  colo- 
nists as  well  as  false,  a  full  third  were 
killed  or  disabled. 

Our  loss  was  great,  when  one  takes  into 
consideration  the  fact  that  we  made  the 
attack,  and  that  it  was  in  a  certain  sense 
surprising. 

Captain  Logan  was  killed ;  Captain 
Mouzon  and  Lieutenant  Scott  so  severely 
wounded  that  even  though  their  lives 
were  saved  it  would  be  impossible  for  them 
to  do  active  service  again,  and  more  than 
an  hundred  people  were  dead  or  disabled. 

Among  the  Tories  the  execution  had 
been  great ;  Captain  Ball  was  dead,  and  a 
full  two  hundred  lay  on  the  ground  lifeless, 
or  wounded  to  such  an  extent  that  retreat 
was  impossible. 


THE  BATTLE.  195 

In  addition  to  that,  we  had  among  us 
one  hundred  and  two  as  prisoners,  and 
they  who  had  a  few  hours  previous  be- 
lieved the  Cause  of  freedom  in  the  Caro- 
linas  was  dead,  now  pleaded  eagerly  to  be 
allowed  to  enlist. 

They  had  no  love  for  country  ;  but  were 
ready  as  ever  to  join  such  force  as  ap- 
peared to  be  gaining  ascendancy,  and  this 
one  victory  had  put  the  Cause  on  a  differ- 
ent footing  from  what  it  had  been  since 
the  day  we  made  the  attack  upon  the 
Prince  of  Wales'  regiment  at  Nelson's 
Ferry. 

In  discussing  this  engagement  afterward, 
Gavin,  Percy  and  I  have  decided,  to  our 
own  satisfaction  at  least,  that  not  one 
among  our  leaders  had  any  idea  of  the 
good  which  might  result  from  what  was 
little  less  than  a  chance  encounter  when 
the  king's  officers  believed  we  had  been 
whipped  into  submission. 

We  ourselves  almost  became  weary  of 
it  as  the  days  passed  and  this  man  or  that, 


196  WITH   THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

who  had  previously  declared  his  allegiance 
to  the  king,  came  into  camp,  begging  the 
privilege  to  enlist  under  the  banner  of 
General  Marion. 

But  I  am  getting  ahead  of  my  story, 
and  it  is  little  wonder,  for  on  the  night  be- 
fore the  battle  at  the  Black  Mingo  we  had 
considered  ourselves  outlaws,  whose  only 
hope  lay  in  striking  one  or  more  severe 
blows  before  death  should  befall  us.  Then 
to  find  that  the  Cause  had  suddenly  re- 
ceived a  new  lease  of  life  was  so  unex- 
pected and  happily  surprising,  that  even 
at  this  late  day  I  cannot  forbear  a  sense 
of  triumph  such  as  I  did  not  know  even 
on  the  day  peace  was  declared,  when  these 
colonies  had  become  a  free  nation — a  na- 
tion such  as  I  doubt  not  will  one  day  be  a 
power  in  the  world. 

We  laid  in  this  captured  camp  suffi- 
ciently long  to  give  all  our  friends  oppor- 
tunity of  joining  us,  and  the  faint-hearted 
inhabitants  nearabout  time  to  declare 
their  pretended  love  for  the  Cause,  before 


THE  BATTLE.  197 

attempting  to  continue  the  lesson  to  the 
red-coats  which  had  been  so  long  delayed. 

It  was  during  this  time  of  inaction  that 
we  were  joined  by  a  young  man  hardly 
older  than  myself,  who  was  destined  to 
make  the  fourth  in  our  comradeship. 

This  was  none  other  than  Gabriel  Marion, 
the  general's  nephew,  a  lad  loved  by  our 
commander  as  if  he  had  been  a  son,  and 
on  whom  one  might  pin  his  faith,  knowing 
full  well  it  would  never  be  betrayed. 

This  Gabriel  did  not  resemble  his  uncle 
in  feature,  else  might  we  never  have  come 
to  take  him  to  our  hearts  as  we  did.  The 
general  wore  a  somber  countenance,  while 
the  lad  was  ever  smiling,  however  great 
the  danger  which  threatened. 

The  general  rarely  spoke  in  a  jovial 
tone,  while  Gabriel  never  lost  an  op- 
portunity of  uttering  a  jest. 

Within  half  an  hour  after  he  rode  into 
the  captured  camp  at  Shepherd's  Ferry 
the  general  sent  for  Percy  and  myself, 
and,  when  we  presented  ourselves,  intro- 


198  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

duced  his  nephew  much  in  the  following 
fashion : 

"  This  lad  is  as  dear  to  me  as  a  son,  and 
his  honor,  his  courage  and  patriotism  as 
near  to  my  heart  as  my  own,  therefore  do 
I  present  him  to  you  two  lads  whom  I 
know  to  be  true  and  faithful  to  whatsoever 
you  set  your  word.  Make  of  him  a  com- 
rade, and  you  will  please  me  ;  hold  him  to 
his  duties  as  you  hold  each  other,  and  you 
will  benefit  him." 

No  words  could  have  been  more  flatter- 
ing or  more  pleasing  to  us,  and  it  can  well 
be  imagined  that  we  were  especially  care- 
ful from  this  day  out  to  merit  the  continu- 
ance of  the  same  favorable  opinion. 

Gabriel  was  a  lad  whom  all  would  love 
immediately  after  knowing  him,  and  once 
having  formed  his  acquaintance,  he  was 
found  to  be  the  same  one  day  as  another, — 
a  true,  lovable  comrade. 

To  him,  as  a  matter  of  course,  we  told 
all  that  had  come  to  us,  since  we  were  reg- 
ularly enrolled  as  members  of  his  uncle's 


THE  BATTLE.  199 

force,  and  in  so  doing  spoke  necessarily  of 
Sam  Lee. 

Although  we  held  ourselves  ever  ready  to 
meet  any  enemies  of  the  Cause,  it  was  that 
young  Tory  whom  we  especially  hoped  to 
come  across. 

If  I  have  not  heretofore  set  it  down 
strongly,  let  it  be  understood  we  had  never 
come  to  a  new  neighborhood  without  a 
strong  hope  that  he  might  be  met,  and 
the  three  of  us  were  resolved  to  capture 
him  at  the  first  opportunity  whatever  the 
hazard,  for  in  all  the  Carolinas  could  be 
found  no  more  bitter  enemy  than  this 
same  lad  who  had  taken  sides  with  the 
hirelings  of  the  king  simply  because  of  his 
own  vicious  nature. 

"  Without  good  reason  therefor,  Sam  Lee 
is>  I  believe,  bent  on  doing  all  possible 
harm  to  us  of  Williamsburg,  and  when  we 
have  made  him  prisoner,  holding  the 
scoundrel  so  close  that  he  cannot  escape 
until  the  Cause  be  won  or  hopelessly  lost, 
we  shall  have  accomplished  a  good  work," 


200  WITH  THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

Percy  said  when  I  had  finished  the  story 
regarding  that  young  Tory. 

"How  may  he,  a  lad  without  influ- 
ence, do  so  much  mischief?"  Gabriel 
asked,  and  Gavin  Witherspoon  replied 
promptly : 

"  It  is  because  of  being  a  mere  boy  that 
gives  him  the  advantage.  Unless  our 
friends  know  him  for  what  he  is,  it  would 
naturally  be  thought  that  he  was  inca- 
pable of  harm.  I  had  rather  have  him  in 
my  clutches  than  any  man  short  of  a 
major  in  the  British  service." 

"What  prevents  our  setting  out  some 
day  and  bringing  him  into  camp?" 
Gabriel  asked  with  a  merry  laugh ;  but 
there  was  no  need  I  should  answer  the 
question,  for  he  knew  full  well  had  it  been 
possible  we  would  have  had  the  Tory  with- 
in our  grasp  long  before  this. 

Just  how  many  days  we  remained  in 
camp  at  Shepherd's  Ferry  I  am  unable  to 
set  down,  because  there  was  much  to  oc- 
cupy our  time,  although  such  occupation 


THE  BATTLE.  201 

was    not    directly    connected    with    the 
Cause. 

We  four  comrades  were  constantly  being 
sent  out  as  scouts,  or  to  urge  that  the 
planters  near  at  hand  bring  in  food,  so 
that  one  day  went  by  after  another  with 
exceeding  swiftness  and  so  much  of  pleas- 
urable intercourse  that  it  was  more  like  a 
merry-making  than  a  struggle  against  a 
mighty  king. 

However,  the  day  came  when  word  was 
whispered  round  about  the  camp  that  we 
were  to  set  out  at  once  for  Lynch's  Creek, 
to  make  an  attack  upon  Colonel  Harrison 
and  his  Tory  Legion. 

While  we  were  preparing  for  the  journey, 
good  friends  came  in  with  tidings  that 
the  renegades  were  gathering  in  large 
force  in  and  about  Salem  and  the  fork  of 
Black  River. 

Here  it  was,  so  we  were  told,  that 
Colonel  Tynes  of  the  British  service  had 
appeared,  summoning  the  people  as  good 
subjects  of  his  majesty  to  take  the  field 


202  WITH  THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

against  their  countrymen,  and  he  brought 
with  him  ample  supplies  of  war  materials, 
provisions,  and  even  of  luxuries  such  as 
our  people  had  not  seen  for  many  a  month. 

Eager  though  we  were  to  be  at  Harrison's 
Tories,  the  tidings  of  new  muskets  with 
bayonets,  broad  swords,  pistols,  saddles, 
bridles,  and  of  powder  and  ball  which  the 
Britisher  had  brought  with  him  caused 
our  mouths  to  water. 

Had  General  Marion  neglected  to  take 
advantage  of  such  opportunity  as  seemed 
suddenly  to  have  presented  itself,  I  be- 
lieve the  men  of  his  brigade,  obedient  and 
faithful  as  they  had  been,  would  have 
burst  into  loud  murmurings,  for  we  were 
sadly  in  need  of  equipments. 

Before  the  day  on  which  this  informa- 
tion was  brought  had  come  to  an  end, 
others  who  were  friendly  to  the  Cause 
arrived  with  the  definite  information  that 
Colonel  Tynes  was  encamped  at  Tarcote,  on 
the  forks  of  Black  River,  and  apparently 
so  secure  in  mind  regarding  his  position 


THE  BATTLE.  203 

that  such  watchfulness  as  common  pru- 
dence would  have  dictated  was  neglected. 

It  was  just  such  an  advantage  as  General 
Marion  delighted  in ;  exactly  the  kind  of 
work  for  which  we  of  the  brigade  were  best 
adapted,  and  every  man  was  in  a  fever  to 
be  at  the  task  which  was  at  one  and  the 
same  time  for  the  benefit  of  the  Cause  and 
the  better  equipment  of  ourselves. 

While  the  officers  deliberated,  the  rank 
and  file  announced  what  articles  they  most 
needed,  as  if  it  were  only  necessary  to  make 
the  statement  in  order  to  have  their  desires 
fulfilled,  and,  in  short,  there  was  not  one 
among  us  but  that  believed  we  could  have 
for  the  choosing  anything  in  Colonel  Tynes' 
stores. 

Tarleton  with  his  Legion  was  hot  after 
us,  and  so  every  one  knew  ;  but  thus  far  we 
had  failed  to  meet  him,  and  between  his 
force  and  ours  was  that  gallant  general  of 
Carolina,  my  father's  kinsman,  General 
Sumter  standing  ever  ready  to  interpose  lest 
Tarleton  should  fall  upon  General  Marion 


204  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

when  he  was  least  prepared,  and  who 
delighted  in  leading  that  British  butcher 
on  a  wild-goose  chase. 

Truly  we  two,  Percy  and  I,  had  reason  to 
be  proud  of  the  men  to  whom  we  were 
bound  by  ties  of  blood,  for  the  names  of 
Sumter  and  James  stood  high,  and  with 
good  cause,  among  the  defenders  of  the 
Carolinas  in  those  dark  days  when  armed 
resistance  seemed  little  short  of  suicide. 

I  realize  that  this  task  which  Percy  has 
insisted  I  shall  perform  is  being  done  in  a 
halting  fashion,  because  of  my  speak- 
ing overly  much,  perhaps,  of  those  who 
remained  true  during  the  darkest  days 
known  by  the  southern  colonies  ;  but  yet 
how  may  it  be  possible  to  tell  any  portion  of 
the  story  of  the  Carolinas  without  mention- 
ing again  and  again  the  names  of  those 
patriots  who  ventured  life  and  fortune 
when  such  sacrifice  seemed  hopeless  ? 

However,  just  now  must  be  told  what 
we  of  the  Williamsburg  district  did  with 
the  overly  confident  Colonel  Tynes,  and  yet 


In  the  darkness  we  four  comrades  were  sent  forward  to  reconnoitre.  -Page  205. 

With  the  Swamp  Fox. 


THE   BATTLE.  205 

the  story  must  be  brief,  because  the  adven- 
ture was  no  more  than  an  ordinary  occur- 
rence, where  neither  glory  nor  honor  is  to 
be  won,  nor  great  deeds  accomplished. 

At  midnight,  eight  and  forty  hours  after 
the  news  had  been  brought,  General  Ma- 
rion's brigade  descended  upon  Colonel 
Tynes'  camp,  and  simply  overran  it. 

It  seems  strange  even  now  that  we 
should  have  seized  upon  all  that  store, 
throwing  so  many  well-armed  men  into  a 
panic  by  simply  riding  among  them,  yet 
such  is  the  fact. 

When,  in  the  darkness  of  the  night,  the 
brigade  came  upon  the  encampment,  we 
four  comrades  were  sent  forward  to  recon- 
noiter,  and  true  it  is  that  we  failed  to  find 
a  single  sentinel  on  guard.  In  some  of 
the  camps  men  were  playing  cards,  in 
others  they  slept,  and  yet  more  sat  around 
the  camp-fires,  drinking  and  smoking. 

The  officers  were  making  merry  in  a 
building  hard  by,  and  there  were  none  to 
oppose  our  progress. 


206  WITH   THE    SWAMP   FOX. 

The  reconnaissance  was  attended  with. 
as  little  danger  as  if  we  four  had  gone  out 
sight-seeing  among  friends,  and  when  we 
returned  to  where  General  Marion  and  my 
uncle  the  major,  awaited  our  coming,  it 
was  with  a  story  so  incredible  that  for  an 
instant  they  could  hardly  believe  our 
statements. 

Then  the  word  "  Forward  "  was  given, 
and  we,  as  I  have  said,  overran  that  camp 
without  hindrance. 

Neither  Britisher  nor  Tory  so  much  as 
discharged  a  gun ;  the  redcoat  and  renegade 
Carolinian  alike  sought  refuge  in  flight, 
hoping  to  gain  the  fastness  of  Tarcote 
Swamp,  and  to  have  cut  them  down  in 
their  panic  would  have  been  like  murder- 
ing men  in  cold  blood,  for  how  can  you 
take  the  life  of  him  who  offers  no  resist- 
ance? 

Twenty  minutes  had  not  elapsed  from 
the  time  we  made  our  report,  until  the  en- 
campment with  all  its  wealth  of  British 
stores  was  our  own,  and  here  and  there 


THE   BATTLE.  207 

came  some  scurvy  Tory  crawling  and 
cringing  before  our  officers  as  he  begged 
to  be  allowed  the  privilege  of  enlisting. 

It  was  not  warfare ;  but  simply  a  forag- 
ing expedition  among  people  who  were  the 
same  as  unarmed. 

Colonel  Tynes,  two  of  his  captains,  and 
fifty-four  British  regulars  were  taken 
prisoners.  We  hardly  troubled  ourselves 
about  the  Tories,  save  that  Gavin,  Percy, 
Gabriel  and  I  rode  here  and  there  searching 
eagerly  for  Sam  Lee,  but  finding  him  not. 

When  day  broke  our  men  overhauled 
the  equipments  and  the  provisions  which 
were  intended  for  those  who  should  take 
up  arms  against  us,  and  before  we  gave 
heed  to  breaking  our  fast  the  old  and 
patched  saddles  were  replaced  by  new  ones 
of  English  make ;  our  powder-horns  and 
shot-pouches  were  filled  ;  we  wore  breeches 
and  boots  that  had  been  brought  for  the 
benefit  of  our  enemies,  and,  to  a  man,  were 
as  well  equipped  as  any  force  the  butcher 
Tarleton  ever  headed. 


208  WITH   THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

The  prisoners  were  sent  to  Kingstree, 
which  town  we  now  believed  ourselves 
capable  of  holding,  and  in  the  fourth  en- 
campment that  had  been  wrested  from  the 
Britishers  or  their  allies,  we  feasted  and 
made  merry,  Gabriel  declaring  that  he 
was  "  disappointed  in  having  thus  joined 
a  band  of  foragers  when  he  expected  to 
see  somewhat  of  warfare." 

And  the  poor  lad  did  see  warfare  in 
its  most  bitter  phase  before  many  days 
passed. 

Now  that  I  am  come  to  the  closing  acts 
in  this  life  which  we  knew  for  so  short  a 
time  and  loved  so  well,  I  must  hasten  over 
them  because  of  the  bitterness  which 
comes  to  me  with  the  memory  that  has 
never  faded. 

We  three  comrades — meaning  Gavin, 
Percy  and  myself — had  seen  the  darkest 
days  of  the  struggle,  and  then  suddenly 
participated  in  the  joy  which  came  to  us 
when,  seemingly  without  good  reason,  we 
were  once  more  triumphant. 


THE  BATTLE.  209 

Gabriel  had  come  at  the  moment  when 
we  were  flushed  with  the  excitement  of 
unexpected  success,  and  he  saw  but  little 
of  it,  poor  lad ! 

While  we  lay  at  Salem  receiving  every 
day  new  recruits  from  those  who  had  been 
lukewarm  to  the  Cause,  and  from  the 
cowards  who  believed  safety  lay  only  in 
friendship  with  the  "  rebels,"  word  was 
brought  that  Lord  Cornwallis  had  begged 
Colonel  Tarleton  to  "  get  at "  General  Mar- 
ion. 

It  was  said  that  the  butcher  had  arisen 
from  a  bed  of  sickness  brought  about  by 
his  own  excesses,  with  a  vow  that  he 
would  capture  "  the  scurvy  Swamp  Fox," 
and  that  his  Legion,  which  was  before 
Camden,  had  orders  to  meet  him  on  the 
"Wateree  Eiver,  from  which  place  he 
would  set  out  to  make  a  prisoner  of  our 
general. 

This  information  came  to  us  at  a  time 
when  we  were  not  only  ready,  but  willing, 

to  meet  the  infamous  Tarleton,  although 

14 


210  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

in  his  Legion  were  two  men,  where  there 
was  one  of  ours,  and,  as  my  uncle  said  with 
a  grim  smile,  when  speaking  to  Gavin 
Witherspoon  after  orders  had  been  given 
us  to  prepare  for  the  march,  "we  would 
make  Colonel  Tarleton's  mission  as  easy 
of  accomplishment  as  was  possible,  so  far 
as  showing  him  the  whereabouts  of  the 
Swamp  Fox  was  concerned." 

Our  horses  were  in  good  condition; 
every  man  among  us  eager  to  measure 
strength  with  this  human  brute  who  had 
devastated  the  Carolinas  wherever  he 
marched,  and  we  hardly  drew  rein  until 
arriving  once  more  at  Nelson's  Ferry,  on 
the  Santee  Eiver. 

This  was  the  second  time  we  had  crossed 
the  entire  district  of  Williamsburg  with 
a  swiftness  such  as  astounded  the  British 
horsemen,  and  it  is  little  wonder  that  our 
general  received  from  them  the  name  in 
which  we  of  his  brigade  gloried. 

Exactly  how  strong  the  Britishers  were 
there  was  no  means  of  knowing,  although 


THE  BATTLE.  211 

one  might  guess  that  Tarleton  would  not 
come  out  with  less  than  his  full  legion, 
which  numbered  upwards  of  eleven  hun- 
dred men ;  but  yet  we  pressed  forward  even 
after  having  come  upon  their  trail,  and 
knowing  how  much  greater  their  force 
was  than  ours — pressed  forward  close  up- 
on their  heels  until  the  hour  came  when 
it  would  have  been  folly  to  continue  on, 
because  the  horses  were  winded. 

Then  we  made  camp  in  the  woods, 
Gabriel  Marion  complaining  bitterly  be- 
cause his  uncle  had  called  a  halt,  although 
the  steed  the  lad  bestrode  could  not  have 
advanced  five  miles  more  at  an  ordinary 
pace. 

Near  the  enemy,  as  we  knew  ourselves 
to  be,  it  was  necessary  to  take  every  pre- 
caution at  this  encampment,  and  we  were 
yet  hard  at  work  while  our  steeds  were 
feeding,  throwing  up  such  rude  shelters  as 
would  suffice  for  the  use  of  the  sharp- 
shooters, when  Colonel  Richardson,  who 
served  under  General  Sumter  until 


WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

wounded  and  had  then  retired  to  his  planta- 
tion for  a  time,  came  into  camp. 

Percy  and  I  were  acting  as  sentinels 
when  he  first  arrived,  and,  fearing  some 
treachery,  for  he  was  a  stranger  to  us, 
would  have  prevented  him  from  even 
speaking  with  one  of  our  officers,  had  he 
not  referred  to  his  services  under  our 
father's  brother  with  such  minuteness  of 
detail  that  we  could  not  longer  remain  in- 
credulous. 

I  conducted  him  to  where  General  Marion 
and  Major  James  sat  upon  the  ground 
amid  a  clump  of  bushes  discussing  plans  for 
the  next  day's  work,  and  had  hardly  more 
than  saluted  when  a  great  light  flashed 
up  on  the  western  sky. 

"  It  is  the  flames  of  my  dwelling,"  Colonel 
Richardson  exclaimed  bitterly,  even  before 
the  general  and  the  major  had  time  to 
welcome  him.  "  Tarleton's  Legion  is  with- 
in five  miles,  bent  now  as  ever  upon  their 
work  of  devastation  ! " 

"  And  you  have  fled  at  such  a  time  ? " 


THE  BATTLE.  213 

my  uncle,  the  major,  said,  in  a  tone  very 
nearly  that  of  reproach. 

"  I  would  willingly  have  given  up  my 
life  in  defense  of  those  whom  I  love  ;  but 
that  you  are  in  the  greatest  danger.  Hid- 
den with  my  wife  and  children  in  one  of 
the  outbuildings — no  other  able-bodied 
man  on  the  plantation  to  aid  me  in  a 
defense  which  would  have  been  vain — I 
saw  a  lad,  whom  I  believe  to  be  one  of 
the  Tory  Lees  from  nearabout  Kingstree, 
ride  up  and  demand  audience  of  Tarleton. 
So  near  was  the  butcher  to  me  at  the 
moment  that  I  heard  plainly  the  young 
scoundrel's  speech,  and  it  was  to  the  effect 
that  General  Marion  with  his  brigade  lay 
here  at  this  place.  There  was  no  longer 
any  course  left  me  save  to  give  you  warn- 
ing, for  as  soon  as  my  plantation  has  been 
ruined  and  the  butcher  satisfies  himself  I 
am  not  at  hand  to  be  hanged,  he  will  make 
a  descent  upon  you." 

"  We  have  come  to  give  him  that  oppor- 
tunity," my  uncle,  the  major,  said  proudly, 


214  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

whereat  Colonel  Eichardson  showed  signs 
of  great  alarm. 

"You  can  easily  be  surrounded  here, 
and,  with  a  force  such  as  Tarleton  has, 
must  be  cut  to  pieces,  however  bravely 
your  men  may  fight.  To  make  a  stand 
would  be  useless  sacrifice  of  life,  and  I  con- 
jure you,  General  Marion,  that  you  seek  a 
more  advantageous  place  in  which  to  meet 
the  enemy  ;  but  whatsoever  may  be  your 
decision,  I  here  offer  myself  as  a  recruit 
until  you  shall  have  given  the  British  cut- 
throat a  proper  lesson." 


GEORGETOWN.  215 


CHAPTER  X. 

GEORGETOWN. 

THE  information  which  Colonel  Richard- 
son brought  regarding  the  renegade  who 
had  acquainted  Tarleton  with  General 
Marion's  whereabouts,  fired  us  four  com- 
rades to  such  a  degree  that  right  willingly 
would  we  have  pushed  forward  alone  in 
the  hope  of  taking  him  prisoner,  even 
while  surrounded  by  his  British  friends. 

As  has  already  been  set  down,  we  gave 
Sam  Lee  credit  for  doing  whatsoever  was 
in  his  power  against  us,  but,  while  it  was 
no  surprise  that  he  should  have  continued 
making  every  effort  to  work  harm  to  the 
friends  of  freedom,  there  was  mingled  with 
our  righteous  anger  something  of  astonish- 
ment at  his  success. 

He  might  have  lived  twice  the  ordinary 


WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

lifetime  of  a  man  without  being  able  to  do 
as  much  mischief  as  in  this  case,  when 
our  people  were  making  ready  to  fall  sud- 
denly upon  Tarleton's  forces. 

Now,  however,  that  was  impossible. 
Even  Major  James  realized  that,  instead 
of  pushing  on,  we  mast  beat  a  retreat 
once  more,  and  without  loss  of  time. 

From  this  moment  until  that  sad  hour 
when  Gavin,  Percy  and  myself,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  general,  were  so  sorely 
afflicted,  there  is  nothing  of  particular 
moment  to  write,  except  that  I  set  down 
the  different  movements  made  by  our 
brigade,  and  the  situation  of  affairs  in  the 
Carolinas. 

In  less  than  twenty  minutes  from  the 
time  Colonel  Eichardson  came  into  the 
encampment,  were  we  urging  our  jaded 
steeds  through  that  gloomy  swamp  known 
as  the  "  wood-yard,"  and  two  hours  later 
the  command  was  halted  on  Jack's  Creek. 

We  had  covered  only  six  miles  in  all  that 
time,  owing  to  the  condition  of  the  horses ; 


GEORGETOWN.  217 

but  it  was  sufficient,  so  far  as  eluding  the 
Britishers  was  concerned,  because  they 
might  not  find  us  unless,  perchance,  more 
spies  were  lurking  around,  until  after  the 
day  should  break. 

While  Colonel  Tarleton  was  a  butcher— 
a  man  who  had  no  idea  of  mercy  or  com- 
passion, it  is  only  just  to  give  him  the 
credit  of  being  a  good  soldier  after  his  own 
particular  fashion. 

As  a  man  to  lead  rough-riders,  he  was 
perhaps  the  best  in  the  king's  service,  and 
we  who  were  fleeing  before  him  understood 
that  not  a  single  moment  would  be  lost  in 
the  pursuit.  Ride  as  fast  and  as  constant- 
ly as  we  might,  his  men  would  be  ever  on 
our  heels,  so  long  as  they  could  hold  the 
pace,  and  it  was  endurance  and  the  speed 
of  the  horses  which  should  give  the  final 
result. 

At  daybreak  our  brigade  was  on  the 
march  once  more,  making  its  way  over 
bogs  and  through  swamps  until  it  was  ar- 
rived at  Benbow's  Ferry,  about  ten  miles 


218  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

above  Kingstree,  where  was  a  strong  natu- 
ral camp. 

It  was  a  place  with  which  we  were  all 
familiar.  It  commanded  a  passage  of  the 
river,  and  was  within  easy  riding  distance 
of  all  the  country  roundabout  from  which 
we  must  draw  provisions  and  provender. 
As  a  rallying  point  it  could  not  have  been 
equalled  in  the  Carolinas,  and  should  we 
be  hard  pressed  there  were  three  difficult 
passes  through  the  swamp  in  the  rear 
where,  if  necessary,  we  might  make  a  stub- 
born fight. 

Strong  as  was  this  position,  General  Mar- 
ion set  about  strengthening  it  yet  further. 

Trees  were  felled,  breastworks  put  up, 
and  in  eight  and  forty  hours  we  were  pre- 
pared to  meet  Tarleton's  much-vaunted 
legion,  reasoning  that  our  defenses  made 
up  for  lack  of  numbers  until  we  were  fully 
the  enemy's  equal. 

Now  we  believed  that  a  decisive  battle 
would  soon  be  fought — one  in  which  the 
victory  could  not  be  doubtful,  but  where 


GEORGETOWN.  219 

the  conquerors  might  for  a  certain  length 
of  time  hold  undisputed  possession  of  the 
William sburg  district,  and  we  counted  on 
being  those  conquerors. 

It  was  not  destined,  however,  that  the 
struggle  in  the  Carolinas  should  be  brought 
to  so  speedy  a  conclusion. 

Tarleton  pursued  our  brigade,  losing  time 
here  and  there  to  burn  dwellings  which 
sheltered  only  women  and  children,  until 
he  was  come  to  within  less  than  twelve 
miles  of  our  camp,  when,  to  the  surprise 
of  enemies  as  well  as  friends,  he  turned 
suddenly  about  and  marched  with  all 
speed  for  Camden. 

It  was  afterward  said  by  the  Tories  that 
Lord  Cornwallis  had  expressly  ordered 
him  to  return ;  but  more  than  one  of  us 
believed  then,  and  yet  hold  to  it,  that  the 
redcoated  Britisher  who  could  be  so  cour- 
ageous when  he  had  none  but  old  men, 
boys  and  women  in  front  of  him,  was  ab- 
solutely afraid  to  measure  strength  with 
General  Marion. 


220  WITH   THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

Now  while  we  laid  here  in  safety, 
gathering  numbers  every  day,  much  was 
done  by  our  friends  in  other  parts  of  the 
colony. 

General  Sumter,  our  kinsman,  gave 
battle  to  Tarleton  at  the  Blackstock  farm 
on  the  banks  of  the  Tyger,  defeating  him 
utterly,  but  at  a  terrific  loss,  so  far  as  the 
Cause  was  concerned.  The  Britishers  had 
ninety-two  killed  and  one  hundred  and 
four  wounded.  Among  the  Americans 
only  three  were  slain  and  four  wounded ; 
but  in  the  latter  list  was  the  general  him- 
self, who  bore  as  marks  of  the  victory  a 
severely  dangerous  wound  in  the  breast. 

His  gallant  followers,  true  to  him  as 
was  our  brigade  to  General  Marion,  lashed 
him  in  the  raw  hide  of  a  bullock  which 
was  slung  as  a  litter  between  two  horses, 
and  thus,  guarded  by  an  hundred  picked 
men,  he  was  carried  to  the  upper  colony, 
so  we  were  told,  where  he  lay  hovering 
'twixt  life  and  death. 

It  was  also  while  we  were  encamped 


GEORGETOWN.  221 

here,  that  the  battle  of  King's  Mountain 
was  fought,  when  the  British,  under 
Major  Ferguson,  were  defeated  hand- 
somely, the  killed,  wounded  and  captured 
of  the  enemy  amounting  to  eleven  hun- 
dred men,  and  among  the  dead  was  the 
major  himself. 

Two  exceedingly  fortunate  encounters 
for  us — encounters  such  as  guaranteed 
to  us  final  victory  if  we  could  but  hold 
out  as  we  had  begun,  and  this  seemed 
most  probable,  for,  as  ever  will  be  the 
case,  a  successful  commander  finds  plenty 
of  recruits. 

We  of  Williamsburg  were  not  inactive 
during  the  days  spent  in  camp ;  but  made 
forays  here  and  there,  capturing  in  some 
places  bands  of  Tories  on  their  way  to 
Georgetown,  or,  having  the  good  fortune 
to  come  across  detachments  of  the  red- 
coats who  were  guarding  store-trains,  un- 
til, should  I  attempt  to  repeat  all  the  little 
adventures  which  befell  us,  I  might  con- 
tinue this  writing  until  so  many  pages 


222  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

were  filled  that  one  would  shrink  from  the 
reading  because  of  the  magnitude  of  the 
task. 

It  is  with  the  more  adventurous,  but 
yet  the  sadder  part  of  our  service  under 
General  Marion  that  I  must  close  this  re- 
cord which  has  been  intended  only  to  show 
what  we  comrades  did,  up  to  the  time 
Snow's  Island  was  fortified,  when  we 
ceased  active  operations  during  the  year. 

The  British  post  at  Georgetown  was  the 
one  place  which  our  people  most  needed 
as  a  base  of  operations  against  Charleston, 
and,  in  fact,  to  hold  our  own  in  Williams- 
burg  district. 

Situated  as  it  was,  we  were  constantly 
menaced,  wherever  our  brigade  might  be, 
by  the  enemy  holding  possession  of  the 
place.  In  addition  to  that,  it  was  a  depot 
for  supplies  of  salt,  clothing  and  ammuni- 
tion for  the  king's  troops,  and  of  such 
goods,  we  who  fought  for  the  Cause  were 
grievously  in  need. 

To  capture  Georgetown  would  be  an  ex- 


GEORGETOWN. 

ploit  such  as  might  advantage  our  people 
more  than  had  the  victory  at  King's  Moun- 
tain, therefore  it  was  to  this  end  that  our 
general  proposed  to  bend  all  his  energies, 
and  in  the  proposition  he  was  seconded 
ably  by  such  followers  as  Major  James  and 
Colonel  Richardson,  the  last-named  gentle- 
man having  remained  with  us  since  the 
day  his  home  was  destroyed. 

It  was  believed  that  the  enemy  lay  at 
Georgetown  in  great  force,  perhaps  to  the 
number  of  four  thousand  men,  and  we 
knew  full  well  the  nature  of  the  fortifica- 
tions round  about  the  post. 

A  direct  assault  would  have  been  fatal 
to  us.  It  was  only  by  such  methods  as 
had  won  for  our  general  the  name  of 
"  Swamp  Fox,"  that  we  could  succeed,  and, 
as  can  well  be  fancied,  none  of  our  people 
were  averse  to  an  attempt  under  those 
circumstances,  for  we  believed  ourselves,  so 
far  as  backwoods  strategy  was  concerned, 
far  superior  to  any  of  the  king's  forces. 

The  first  we  of  the  rank  and  file  knew, 


224  WITH   THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

regarding  the  method  by  which  it  was  hoped 
we  might  succeed,  was  when  we  broke 
camp,  carrying  with  us  all  our  equipage 
and  so  much  of  provisions  as  could  be 
gathered  from  the  country  round  about, 
and  crossed  Black  Eiverto  a  little  settle- 
ment known  as  Potato  Ferry,  advancing 
toward  Georgetown  by  that  road  called  the 
"Gap  Way." 

Now  this  much  by  way  of  explanation 
for  the  benefit  of  those  who  are  not  ac- 
quainted with  the  vicinity  of  that  post. 

Three  miles  from  Georgetown  is  an 
inland  swamp  known  as  White's  Bay, 
which,  discharging  itself  by  two  mouths, 
the  one  into  Black  River  and  the  other 
into  Sampit,  completely  cuts  off  the  post, 
which  stands  on  the  north  side  of  the  last- 
named  river  near  its  junction  with  Winy  aw 
Bay.  Over  the  creek  which  empties  into 
Sampit  there  is  a  bridge,  two  miles  from 
the  town. 

Now  it  was  in  the  rear  of  this  swamp 
that  we  finally  came  to  a  halt,  having,  as 


GEORGETOWN.  225 

was  believed,  arrived  there  without  knowl- 
edge of  the  enemy. 

Gavin  Witherspoon  claimed  that  he  un- 
derstood all  which  the  general  proposed  to 
do,  but  that  statement  I  question  seriously, 
otherwise  would  we  have  heard  from  the 
old  man  concerning  several  moves  that 
would  have  been  more  than  injudicious  if 
General  Marion  had  the  same  idea  in  mind 
Gavin  gave  him  credit  for. 

Let  it  be  understood  that  we  were  come 
to  this  point,  not  more  than  three  miles 
from  the  post,  five  hundred  and  fifty 
strong,  each  one  mounted  and  carrying 
so  much  of  provisions  and  provender  as 
would  suffice  for  eight  and  forty  hours'  con- 
sumption. 

Up  to  the  moment  of  our  halting  we  had 
seen  no  persons  save  those  whom  we  knew 
beyond  a  peradventure  to  be  devoted  to 
the  Cause,  and,  therefore,  could  say  to  a 
certainty  that  we  were  thus  far  advanced 
toward  the  object  of  our  desires  in  such 
fashion  as  the  Swamp  Fox  most  desired. 
JS 


226  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

Unless  some  false  move  was  made,  some 
prying,  unfriendly  eye  discovered  us,  we 
would  be  able  to  ride  down  upon  George- 
town as  we  had  ridden  into  many  a  British 
camp  before,  doing  more  through  fear 
than  bullets,  and  gaining  victory  where 
by  rights  none  should  have  been  enjoyed. 

Well,  we  were  halted  here,  and  all  had 
dismounted,  each  man  feeding  his  horse 
in  anticipation  of  the  work  to  come  when 
the  speed  of  the  animals  would  avail  as 
much,  perhaps  even  more  than  the  accuracy 
of  our  aim. 

Then  it  was,  after  a  consultation  with 
the  general,  my  uncle  advanced  where  all, 
save  that  line  of  sentinels  which  hemmed 
us  in  to  keep  prying  eyes  at  a  respectful 
distance,  might  see  him,  and  Gabriel 
Marion  said  to  me  gleefully  : 

"  Now  has  come  the  time,  lad,  when  we 
will  be  able  to  ride  into  this  adventure  side 
by  side,  and  carve  out  for  ourselves  such 
names  as  shall  live  in  the  grateful  memory 
of  men  after  these  colonies  are  free." 


GEORGETOWN.  227 

And  the  dear  lad  did  carve  out  a  name 
for  himself ! 

"  I  call  for  volunteers  who  will  present 
themselves  for  dangerous  service,"  my  un- 
cle began,  and  every  man  pricked  up  his 
ears,  each  eager  to  be  among  those  who 
might  distinguish  themselves.  "Two 
squads  of  twenty  each,  and  so  many  as  are 
minded  to  sacrifice  their  lives,  perchance, 
for  the  benefit  of  the  brigade,  may  step 
forward  two  paces." 

Gavin,  Percy,  Gabriel  and  I  advanced 
without  loss  of  time,  and  the  blood  fairly 
leaped  in  my  veins  when  I  saw  that  of  all 
the  brigade  every  man  had  made  the  same 
movement. 

In  General  Marion's  force  each  was 
equally  eager  to  lay  down  his  life  for  the 
others,  and  it  was  that  spirit  which  finally 
gained  for  us  the  independence  of  the 
American  colonies. 

"  I  had  expected  some  such  outburst  of 
patriotism;  but  failed  by  a  considerable 
degree  to  anticipate  the  reality,"  my  uncle, 


WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 

the  major,  said  with  a  smile  of  satisfaction. 
"You  be  brave  lads  all,  as  has  been  proven 
many  and  many  a  time  before,  and  there- 
fore each  and  every  one  is  entitled  to  the 
honor  of  making  his  life  the  sacrifice  for 
the  others ;  but,  unfortunately  for  your 
desires,  only  forty  men  may  be  chosen. 
Let  those  who  are  willing  to  relinquish  the 
desire  to  show  their  love  for  country  in 
order  that  others  who,  perhaps,  can  better 
be  spared  may  make  any  sacrifice,  retreat 
two  paces." 

Not  a  man  moved  ;  every  trooper  of  the 
Williamsburg  brigade  stood  firm  in  place, 
as  if  determined  that  he,  and  he  alone, 
should  be  the  one  who  would  give  up  his 
life  for  the  other,  and  among  them  all  were 
we  four  comrades,  tried  and  true — com- 
rades who  were  destined  to  ride  on  until 
we  saw  one  of  our  number  fall,  foully  mur- 
dered, without  being  able  to  raise  a  hand 
in  his  defense. 

Now  it  was  that  General  Marion  ad- 
vanced to  the  side  of  my  uncle,  his  eyes  all 


GEORGETOWN.  229 

aflame,  and  more  enthusiasm  showing  in 
that  quiet  face  than  I  had  ever  believed 
could  find  a  place  there. 

"Gentlemen  of  the  Williamsburg  brig- 
ade, I  thank  you  from  the  bottom  of  my 
heart.  Many  a  time  before  have  you 
proven  yourselves  heroes;  but  never  so 
truly,  never  so  emphatically  as  at  this  mo- 
ment— when  every  man  of  you  is  eager  to 
offer  up  his  life,  and  in  that  for  which  the 
volunteers  are  called  I  do  assure  you  there 
are  eight  chances  out  of  ten  that  no  one 
comes  back  alive.  Now  I  entreat  that  so 
many  of  you  as  are  fathers  of  families  shall 
step  back,  allowing  younger  soldiers  to 
take  your  places." 

Yet  every  man  remained  in  his  place, 
and  it  seemed  much  as  though  we  might 
come  at  loggerheads,  one  with  the  other, 
as  to  who  should  die  first,  for  all  knew  that 
this  attack  upon  the  well-fortified,  over- 
garrisoned  post  of  Georgetown  was  no 
child's  play,  no  feint  at  warfare ;  but  a 
desperate  undertaking  which  to  succeed 


230  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

must  be  carried  on  with  total  disregard  of 
life. 

"Now  has  come  the  time  when  I  myself 
must  make  the  selection,"  the  major,  my 
uncle,  said  with  a  look  on  his  face  which 
told  how  greatly  this  exhibition  pleased 
him.  "  I  shall  call  out  one  man,  and  the 
general  may  select  another,  each  making 
his  choice  until  the  forty  have  been  chosen. 
Let  it  be  remembered  that  in  this  case  I 
exercise  the  right  to  use  favoritism,  for 
there  be  among  you  lads  of  my  own  blood 
whom  I  am  minded  shall  go  forth  in  pref- 
erence to  those  who  have  families  depen- 
dent upon  them.  Therefore,  men,  do  not 
blame  me  when  I  claim  what  I  may  claim, 
even  disregarding  the  privilege  of  others." 

Then  it  was,  and  proud  am  I  to  write  it, 
that  he  cried  out : 

"Robert  Sumter!" 

I  stepped  forward,  my  face  flushed  with 
pardonable  pride,  and  in  his  turn  the  gen- 
eral cried : 

"  Gabriel  Marion ! " 


GEORGETOWN.  231 

"  Percy  Sumter  !  "  my  uncle  next  called, 
and  the  general  added  : 

"  Gavin  Witherspoon  ! " 

Thus  were  we  four  comrades  the  first  to 
be  selected  for  this  post  of  honor  which  will 
be  remembered,  as  I  fondly  believe,  long 
after  we  are  gone  from  this  world,  and  in 
all  the  Carolinas  were  no  four  individuals 
more  puffed  up  with  pride  and  pleasure 
than  we. 

Around  us  everywhere  were  envious 
eyes,  as  if  life  had  suddenly  lost  all  its 
charm,  and  death  were  the  one  thing  most 
desired. 

Man  after  man  was  thus  summoned  to 
take  his  place  in  the  ranks  of  the  devoted, 
until  we  had  the  full  number  two  paces  in 
advance  of  all  the  rest,  and  then  it  was  my 
uncle  said,  moving  up  and  down  the  line 
as  if  it  pleasured  him  to  look  on  those  who 
were  selected  for  the  most  perilous  venture : 

"  Gentlemen,  it  may  be  that  after  an- 
other hour  has  passed  we  shall  not  meet 
again  on  this  earth.  Therefore  I  pray  you, 


232  WITH   THE  SWAMP  POX. 

those  who  have  any  request  to  make,  speak 
now,  that  we  may  remember  in  the  days  to 
come  that  all  you  desired  was  granted." 

No  man  spoke  for  so  long  a  time  as  would 
have  taken  me  to  count  twenty,  and  then 
Gabriel  Marion,  dear  lad  that  he  was,  raised 
his  cap  courteously,  as  he  bowed  and 
said  : 

"  Major  James,  if  it  so  be  the  request  we 
make  now  be  granted,  I  pray  your  pardon 
when  I  ask  a  selfish  one,  which  is  that  us 
four  who  have  been  comrades  since  I  joined 
the  brigade — us  four  who  have  eaten  and 
slept  together,  may  not  be  separated  when 
you  shall  divide  this  squad  into  two.  That 
we  may  be  allowed  to  go  on  side  by  side,  as 
we  have  from  the  day  I  first  knew  these 
lads  and  Gavin  Wither  spoon." 

"  It  shall  be  as  you  say,"  my  uncle 
replied,  and  then  turning,  looked  at  the 
others. 

Emboldened  by  Gabriel's  speech,  one 
man  requested  that  should  he  fail  to  return, 
evidence  might  be  sent  his  kinsmen  that 


GEORGETOWN.  233 

he  was  proud  at  being  able  to  thus  serve 
the  colonies. 

Another  made  a  similar  request,  and 
so  on  until  perhaps  half  a  dozen  had  spoken, 
when  all  fell  silent. 

There  was  no  more  to  be  said.  It  only 
remained  that  we  march  forth  to  lay  down 
our  lives,  or  to  win  them,  as  the  case  might 
be. 

As  for  myself,  I  believed  we  who  were 
chosen  would  probably  perish  in  what- 
soever of  adventure  was  before  us,  for  I 
thought  then,  much  as  did  Gavin  Wither- 
spoon,  that  we  were  to  make  an  attack 
upon  two  portions  of  the  town,  while  the 
remainder  of  the  brigade,  after  we  were 
slain,  would  come  in  a  different  direction, 
and,  taking  advantage  of  the  diversion 
caused  by  our  attack,  win  the  day. 

It  would  be  a  glorious  ending  of  one's 
life ;  yet  as  I  reflected  upon  it,  although  not 
in  the  least  degree  wishing  I  might  have 
been  among  this  third  party  rather  than 
in  the  lead,  I  said  to  myself  that  it  would 


234  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

be  sweet  to  live  until  we  had  thrown  off 
the  king's  yoke,  for  at  this  moment  when 
we  stood  face  to  face  with  death,  almost 
feeling  the  great  white  angel's  cold  hand 
upon  us,  I  was  as  certain  we  would  finally 
win  the  victory,  however  many  hirelings 
his  majesty  might  send  upon  us,  as  I  was 
certain  that  my  life  might  within  a  very 
few  moments  be  the  penalty  of  the  pride 
which  was  within  me. 

Perchance  never  in  the  history  of  the 
Carolinas  has  there  at  any  one  time  so 
much  of  true  bravery  been  shown  as  we 
saw  then  when  the  only  discontent  was 
because  one  was  more  favored  than  another 
in  the  permission  to  offer  his  life  as 
a  sacrifice. 

Well,  we  were  not  kept  long  in  line  after 
such  arrangements  had  been  made  as  I 
have  described. 

Before  being  dismissed,  however,  those 
who  were  to  be  left  behind  would  have 
raised  a  cheer,  but  that  Captain  Horry  pre- 
vented any  such  outburst  lest  scouting 


GEORGETOWN.  235 

parties  of  the  enemy  might  be  near,  and 
then  the  final  preparations  were  made 
without  loss  of  time  for  the  work  in  hand. 

Captain  Melton  was  named  as  the  gentle- 
man who  should  lead  our  squad,  and  Cap- 
tain Horry  given  command  of  the  other. 

So  far  as  his  purpose  was  concerned, 
General  Marion  did  not  leave  us  in  doubt, 
claiming,  as  he  said,  that  we  had  the  right 
to  know  exactly  what  he  proposed  doing  so 
we  might  act  the  more  intelligently. 

Our  squad  was  to  approach  the  town 
near  White's  Bridge,  and  the  other  would 
reconnoiter  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
post ;  but  neither  was  to  return,  save  in 
case  of  some  serious  disaster,  until  the 
main  attack  had  been  made. 

It  was  not  exactly  as  Gavin  Witherspoon 
had  predicted,  because  we  were  given  no 
orders  to  assault  the  enemy  independently  ; 
but  were  to  make  a  detour,  each  squad 
half  around  the  post,  and  in  case  of  any 
important  discovery  to  send  word  back  im- 
mediately to  the  general. 


236  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

At  the  dawn  of  the  following  day  the 
brigade  was  to  advance,  and  at  the  first 
alarm,  wherever  we  of  the  chosen  ones 
might  be,  we  would  join  the  assaulting 
party  in  such  manner  as  our  commanders 
thought  proper. 

All  this,  as  I  have  said,  was  told  by  Gen- 
eral Marion  himself,  and  nothing  could 
have  given  us  greater  confidence  in  the  ad- 
venture than  that  he  should  see  fit  to  ex- 
plain his  plans  when  another  commander 
might  have  remained  silent. 

There  were  no  leave-takings ;  no  delay. 

Such  work  as  ours  was  to  be  done  on  the 
instant,  and  Captain  Melton,  advancing  at 
the  head  of  our  squad,  for  by  this  time  we 
had  been  told  off  in  two  parties  of  twenty, 
said  quietly : 

"  We  will  move  on  foot  in  such  forma- 
tion as  may  be  most  agreeable.  As  I  un- 
derstand it,  our  work  is  rather  in  the 
nature  of  spying  than  of  a  military  move- 
ment, and  my  only  order  is  that  you  allow 
me  to  lead." 


GEORGETOWN.  237 

Captain  Horry  was  already  leaving  the 
encampment  when  we  set  off,  following 
our  commander  much  as  a  party  of  pleas- 
ure seekers  might  troop  after  him  who 
had  promised  to  show  them  some  desirable 
place  of  entertainment,  and  as  we  threaded 
our  way  through  the  swamp  Gabriel 
Marion,  linking  his  arm  in  mine,  said 
cheerily,  with  never  a  tremor  in  his  voice 
to  show  that  the  doom  of  the  future  lay 
upon  his  heart : 

"  We  four  are  in  rare  luck,  Eobert  Sum- 
ter.  I  did  not  believe  my  uncle  would 
grant  me  so  great  a  boon  as  to  call  my 
name,  and  when  yours  was  spoken  by 
Major  James  the  tears  almost  came  into 
my  eyes,  fearing  lest  you  should  go  while 
I  remained  behind." 


238  WITH  THE   SWAMP  FOX. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

GABRIEL. 

I  KNOW  not  how  to  set  down  properly 
such  a  narrative  as  this,  and,  therefore, 
should  be  excused  for  such  mistakes  as  may 
occur  through  ignorance  and  inexperience. 

It  is  with  the  attack  upon  Georgetown 
that  I  must  end  this  portion  of  the  adven- 
tures which  befell  Percy  and  myself  during 
the  time  we  served  under  General  Marion, 
and  it  may  be  the  story  should  be  con- 
tinued straight  on  without  any  heed  what- 
soever to  those  who  fought  with  us,  al- 
though in  the  same  squad. 

Whether  it  be  right  or  wrong,  I  cannot 
well  neglect  to  speak  of  the  part  played 
by  that  other  party  of  twenty  who  volun- 
teered their  lives  as  eagerly  as  did  we  who 
followed  Captain  Melton,  and  what  I  write 


GABRIEL.  239 

concerning  them  must,  of  course,  be  from 
hearsay. 

Therefore  it  seems  to  me  proper  to  tell 
first  the  story  of  Colonel  Horry's  squad, 
as  I  have  heard  it  related  again  and  again, 
before  attempting  to  set  down  that  which 
I  know  of  my  own  knowledge. 

When  the  forty  volunteers  were  divided 
into  two  squads  there  was  no  time  lost,  as 
I  have  already  said,  in  setting  forward 
upon  that  mission  which  we  believed  could 
be  fully  accomplished  only  through  the 
sacrifice  of  us  all,  and  we  parted  at  the 
limits  of  the  temporary  halting  place, 
Captain  Melton  leading  his  force  to  the 
right,  while  Colonel  Horry  began  the  re- 
connoiter  by  bearing  to  the  left. 

As  to  what  befell  the  first  squad,  this  is 
as  I  have  heard  it  related  : 

They  continued  on  through  the  woods 
until  near  to  daybreak,  when,  as  Colonel 
Horry  himself  has  said,  and  I  am  now 
quoting  from  his  official  account,  he  "  laid 
an  ambuscade,  with  my  twenty  men,  near 


240  WITH  THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

the  road.  About  sunrise  a  chair  appeared 
with  two  ladies  escorted  by  two  British 
officers.  I  was  ready  in  advance  with  an 
officer  to  cut  them  off,  but  reflecting  that 
they  might  escape,  and  alarm  the  town, 
which  would  prevent  my  taking  greater 
numbers,  I  desisted.  The  officers  and  chair 
halted  very  near  me,  but  soon  the  chair 
went  on,  and  the  officers  galloped  into 
the  town.  Our  party  continued  in  ambush 
until  10  o'clock. 

"Nothing  appearing,  and  we  having 
eaten  nothing  for  many  hours,  retired  to 
a  plantation  not  far  distant,  where  I  knew 
were  to  be  found  friends.  As  soon  as  I  en- 
tered the  house  four  ladies  appeared,  two  of 
whom  were  Mrs.  White  and  her  daughter. 
I  was  asked  what  I  wanted.  I  answered, 
food,  refreshment.  The  other  two  ladies 
were  those  whom  I  had  seen  escorted  by 
the  British  officers. 

"The  strange  ladies  seemed  greatly 
agitated,  and  begged  most  earnestly  that 
I  would  go  away.  I  kept  my  eye  on  Mrs. 


GABRIEL.  241 

White,  and  saw  she  had  a  smiling  counte- 
nance, but  said  nothing.  Soon  she  left  the 
room,  and  I  left  it  also  and  went  into  the 
piazza,  laid  my  cap,  sword  and  pistols  on 
the  long  bench,  and  walked  the  piazza ; 
when  I  discovered  Mrs.  White  behind  the 
house  chimney  beckoning  me. 

'k  I  got  to  her  undiscovered  by  the  young 
ladies,  when  she  said :  *  Colonel  Horry,  be 
on  your  guard ;  these  two  young  ladies  are 
just  from  Georgetown ;  they  are  much 
frightened,  and  I  believe  the  British  are 
leaving  it  and  may  soon  attack  you.  As 
to  provisions,  I  have  plenty  in  yonder 
barn,  but  you  must  affect  to  take  them  by 
force.' 

"  I  begged  her  to  say  no  more,  for  I  was 
well  acquainted  with  all  such  matters. 
We  both  secretly  returned,  she  to  the  room 
where  the  young  ladies  were,  and  I  to  the 
piazza  I  had  just  left." 

The  colonel  had  no  more  than  gained 
this  point,  when  the  sentinels  gave  an 
alarm. 

16 


242  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

Two  musket-shots  told  him  that  an 
enemy  was  near  at  hand,  and  almost  im- 
mediately afterward  the  firing  became  so 
rapid  that  he  knew  an  encounter  was  al- 
ready begun. 

That  brave  officer  thought  only  of  his 
men,  and  so  nearly  were  the  interests  of 
the  squad  allied,  that  he  forgot  all  else  save 
the  desire  to  be  with  them  in  the  time  of 
danger. 

He  rushed  into  the  fight,  forgetting  to 
take  with  him  even  his  saber — intent  only 
on  being  with  those  who  had  so  well  proven 
their  devotion  to  the  Cause. 

The  British  were  seventeen  in  number, 
well  armed,  and  commanded  by  a  brave 
fellow  named  Merritt ;  but  they  were  taken 
by  surprise. 

The  redcoats  retreated,  but  turned  in 
their  flight  to  strike  a  blow,  and  our  men, 
believing  they  had  been  ordered  on  even  to 
death,  pursued  with  fatal  earnestness. 

Of  the  -enemy's  force  only  two  men  es- 
caped death  or  capture,  and  one  of  these 


GABRIEL.  243 

was  the  captain,  of  whom  Colonel  Horry 
writes : 

"My  men  in  succession  came  up  with 
Captain  Merritt,  who  was  in  the  rear  of  his 
party,  urging  them  forward.  They  en- 
gaged him.  He  was  a  brave  fellow.  Bax- 
ter, with  pistols,  fired  at  his  breast,  and 
missing  him,  retired ;  Postell  and  Greene, 
with  swords,  engaged  him ;  both  were 
beaten  off.  Greene  nearly  lost  his  head. 
His  buckskin  breeches  were  cut  through 
several  inches.  I  almost  blush  to  say  that 
this  one  British  officer  beat  off  three  Amer- 
icans. Merritt  escaped  to  a  neighboring 
swamp,  from  whence,  at  midnight,  he  got 
to  Georgetown." 

I  would  it  were  possible  for  me  to  give 
as  brief  an  account,  with  as  satisfactory 
an  ending,  regarding  our  portion  of  the 
reconnoiter. 

As  has  been  said,  after  crossing  White's 
Bridge  the  two  squads  separated,  Colonel 
Horry's  going  toward  the  left  and  ours  to 
the  right. 


244  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

Then  it  was,  as  we  rode  on  slowly, 
mentally  nerved  for  anything  which  might 
happen  and  fully  expecting  sharp  and 
bloody  work  at  any  instant,  that  Gabriel 
Marion  said,  looking  first  at  Percy  and 
then  at  me : 

"  Perhaps  it  will  never  again  be  our  good 
fortune,  comrades,  to  have  such  an  op- 
portunity of  proving  our  metal  as  has 
come  to  us  this  night.  Now  I  am  in  no- 
wise eager  for  death;  but  to  my  mind 
there  is  little  fear  that  the  end  be  near  at 
hand.  Although  the  odds  are  so  strongly 
against  us,  we  shall  take  this  post  of 
Georgetown,  and  I  believe  it  because  my 
uncle,  the  major,  is  a  careful,  prudent  sol- 
dier, never  taking  upon  himself  chances 
that  are  utterly  without  hope,  although 
many  times  the  fact  may  have  seemed  to 
be  the  reverse.  We  shall  capture  George- 
town, comrades,  and  if  either  of  us  fails  to 
come  out  alive,  we  have  the  proud  satis- 
faction of  knowing  that  whatsoever  befalls 
the  Cause  our  names  must  live  among 


GABRIEL.  245 

those  who  volunteered  everything  for 
freedom." 

"  I  hold  to  it  that  this  is  not  the  time 
for  such  speeches,"  Gavin  Witherspoon 
said  nervously ;  and  had  I  not  known  him 
to  be  a  man  of  tried  courage  I  should  have 
said  that  at  that  moment  he  was  afraid. 
"  These  forty  men  who  came  forward  so 
gallantly  understood  full  well  in  what 
kind  of  an  adventure  they  were  engaged. 
It  does  not  prove  that  his  courage  is  the 
greatest  who  speaks  overly  much  regard- 
ing the  future." 

"  Meaning  by  such  speech,  that  I  had 
best  hold  my  tongue,"  Gabriel  said  with  a 
laugh.  "  Perhaps  you  may  be  right,  and 
yet  there  is  upon  me  the  inclination  to 
speak  of  what  we  have  ventured,  in  order 
that  I  may  be  the  better  able  to  appreciate 
life  after  it  has  been  offered  as  a  sacrifice 
and  refused." 

"  I  guarantee  that  once  we  are  come  out 
from  this  expedition,  you  will  need  no 
thought  of  the  past  to  make  you  under- 


246  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

stand  that  we  rode  down  the  very  shadow 
of  death,  when  we  crossed  yonder  bridge, 
and  this  I  say,  not  because  there  is  in  my 
mind  any  foreknowledge  of  the  future, 
but  from  what  I  know  regarding  the 
enemy.  I  realize,  without  being  told,  that 
ours  is  as  desperate  an  undertaking  as 
men  can  well  imagine.1' 

"  I  am  thinking  that  your  words,  Gavin 
Witherspoon,  are  as  ill-timed  as  were 
Gabriel's,  for  while  he  spoke  of  what  might 
be  our  reward,  you  are  weighing,  as  it 
were,  the  chances  against  us,  and  to  my 
mind  it  is  not  pleasant,"  Percy  said  with 
an  attempt  at  cheerfulness  which  I  knew 
full  well  was  forced,  and,  stepping  nearer 
to  the  lad,  I  grasped  his  hand,  an  act 
which,  perhaps,  gave  him  as  much  en- 
couragement as  was  in  my  mind  to  im- 
part. 

Gabriel  continued  to  speak  of  the  future, 
as  if  he  had  no  part  in  the  present,  until 
word  came  that  each  man  must  hold  him- 
self silent  because  we  were  come  so  near 


GABRIEL.  247 

the  town  that  there  was  good  reason  for 
believing  the  enemy's  sentinels  might  be 
close  at  hand. 

We  straggled  on,  each  as  he  pleased,  al- 
though there  was  some  little  show  of  mili- 
tary formation.  Captain  Melton  was. al- 
lowed to  remain  in  the  lead  as  he  had 
stipulated,  but  we  four  comrades  took 
good  care  not  to  fall  back  more  than  two 
or  three  paces,  for  we  were  minded  to 
bear  the  brunt  of  the  first  encounter. 

I  had  never  before  known  what  it  was 
to  advance  against  an  enemy  on  foot,  and 
the  fact  of  being  without  a  horse  gave  me 
a  certain  sense  of  uneasiness. 

So  far  as  we  of  these  two  advanced 
squads  were  concerned,  there  could  be  no 
sudden  dash ;  no  spurring  forward  into 
the  very  midst  of  the  enemy.  We  must 
fight  our  way  forward  slowly,  and,  as  it 
seemed  to  me,  at  a  disadvantage. 

However,  it  is  true  that  my  courage  did 
not  fail  me,  although  my  hand  trembled 
with  excitement,  and  my  mouth  was 


248  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

parched  and  dry  as  if  I  had  been  many 
hours  without  water. 

Gabriel  had  just  thrown  his  arm  over  my 
shoulder,  to  show  the  affection  which  was 
in  his  heart  for  us  all,  when  the  thud  of 
horses'  hoofs  directly  in  the  front  told  that 
the  enemy  were  on  the  alert. 

Instantly  we  were  halted,  every  man  in 
a  posture  of  defense,  and  I  venture  to  say 
that  there  was  not  one  among  us  who  did 
not  wish  he  was  in  the  saddle. 

"Hold  steady,  boys!"  Captain  Melton 
whispered.  "  Yonder  comes  the  patrol, 
and  it  may  be  they  will  turn  before  coming 
as  far  as  this ;  but  if  not,  we  have  our 
work  cut  out  for  us.  The  enemy  must  not 
pass  this  point  lest  our  friends  in  the  rear 
be  discovered ! " 

Involuntarily  we  four  had  crouched 
upon  our  knees  in  such  position  that  we 
could  use  the  muskets  to  good  advantage, 
and  thus  we  remained  in  the  front  line 
while  the  horsemen  galloped  nearer  and 
nearer  until  they  were  absolutely  upon  us. 


GABRIEL.  249 

"  Fire ! "  our  commander  shouted,  and 
from  that  little  squad  of  crouching  figures 
a  line  of  fire  flashed  forth  into  the  very 
nostrils  of  the  animals,  causing  them  to 
rear  and  plunge  madly,  thus  diverting  our 
bullets  from  their  targets. 

Three  saddles  were  emptied  when  a  full 
twenty  would  have  been  the  result  of  the 
volley  had  we  fired  one  minute  before,  and 
then  every  man  among  us  began  to  reload 
his  weapon  with  feverish  haste,  for  but 
few  seconds  could  elapse  before  the  Brit- 
ishers would  charge. 

"  This  is  what  may  be  called  a  real  bat- 
tle ! "  Gabriel  cried  exultantly ;  but  no 
one  replied. 

Death  for  many  of  us  was  close  at  hand, 
and  at  such  a  time  words  do  not  come 
readily. 

I  was  ramming  home  the  bullet  in  my 
musket  when  the  horsemen  again  dashed 
upon  us  from  out  the  darkness ;  there 
came  a  roar  as  if  a  thousand  guns  had 
been  discharged  at  the  same  instant,  and 


250  T/ITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

all  before  me  seemed  to  be  a  sheet  of 
flame. 

Of  what  followed  during  the  next  five 
or  ten  minutes  I  have  no  clear  idea. 

Before  me  reared  and  plunged  the 
British  horses,  while  here,  there  and  every- 
where I  heard  cries  of  rage  or  groans  of 
mortal  agony  until  it  was  all  a  hideous, 
whirling,  dancing  picture  in  which  I  could 
distinguish  only  the  outlines  of  my  com- 
rades, who  held  their  places  bravely. 

Side  by  side  we  fought  against  the  red- 
coats, ignorant  of  the  fact  that  we  were 
alone,  and  then  came  the  moment  when 
all  our  muskets  were  emptied  at  the  same 
instant. 

The  horsemen  surrounded  us ;  our  weap- 
ons were  of  little  service  against  the  sabers 
of  the  enemy,  and  we  understood  it,  al- 
though there  was  no  thought  of  surrender 
in  my  mind  until  Gavin  Witherspoon 
seized  me  by  the  arm,  shouting  in  my 
ear: 

"  Surrender,  lad,  surrender !    There    is 


«„„„ .tad », arm. shout,,*,. £ --.  " 


GABRIEL.  251 

neither  honor  nor  glory  in  dying  when  our 
lives  are  of  no  avail  for  the  Cause  !  " 

Even  as  he  spoke  three  of  the  redcoats 
had  clutched  Gabriel  and  Percy. 

I  allowed  my  musket,  which  had  been 
raised  as  a  club,  to  drop,  and  immediately 
I  felt,  for  the  first  time,  the  grasp  of  a 
Britisher. 

We  were  prisoners.  The  glory  of  fight- 
ing to  the  bitter  end  with  the  knowledge 
that  in  so  doing  we  were  opening  the  way 
for  those  in  the  rear,  was  denied  us,  and 
but  for  the  shame  of  it  I  could  have  wept 
like  a  girl. 

And  yet  all  this  was  as  nothing  com- 
pared with  what  followed. 

The  troopers  were  about  to  disarm  us, 
and  some  one  had  fired  a  torch  that  we 
might  be  the  better  seen,  when  Sam 
Lee— that  miserable  Tory  and  renegade- 
came  up  from  the  rear,  where  most  likely 
he  had  been  skulking  during  the  fight- 
ing, and,  seeing  us,  set  up  a  shout  of 
triumph. 


252  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

"  Now  have  I  got  you  rebels  where 
I've  been  burning  to  see  you?"  he  cried. 
"  Now  we  shall  see— 

"  Is  that  Sam  Lee  ? "  Gabriel  shouted, 
struggling  to  release  himself  from  his  cap- 
tor's grasp. 

"  Ay,  and  it  is  the  cur  who  has  sold  his 
country,  his  kinsmen  and  himself  for  the 
king's  gold  ! "  Percy  replied.  "  There  is  no 
dishonor  in  being  overpowered  by  true  sol- 
diers in  a  fair  fight ;  but  to  have  such  as 
that  villain  alive  before  one's  eyes  is  a  dis- 
grace." 

"  It  shall  be  worse  than  that  to  you !  " 
Sam  shrieked,  "  and  as  for  that  nephew  of 
the  rebel  Marion,  I— 

"What  are  you  saying?"  one  of  the 
troopers  asked,  seizing  Sam  Lee  and  shak- 
ing him  as  if  to  force  the  reply  more 
quickly.  "  Is  one  of  these  a  nephew  to  the 
Swamp  Fox  ? " 

"  Ay,  that  he  is ! "  Gabriel  made  answer, 
stepping  forward  as  far  as  the  hand  of 
the  captor  would  permit.  "I  am  the 


GABRIEL.  253 

nephew  of  General  Marion,  and  proud  in- 
deed of  the  kinship  !  " 

I  was  looking  at  the  dear  lad  that  in- 
stant, having  turned  my  eyes  from  the 
scurvy  Tory  when  Gabriel  began  to  speak, 
otherwise,  perhaps,  I  might  have  prevented 
that  terrible  thing  which  followed. 

While  the  remainder  of  the  party  were 
looking  at  the  brave  lad  who  stood  before 
them  in  the  glare  of  the  torches,  Sam  Lee, 
doubled-dyed  villain  that  he  was,  rushed 
upon  him  with  a  saber  which  he  had 
seized  from  the  hand  of  the  trooper. 

In  the  flickering  light  I  saw  the  gleam 
of  the  steel,  and  before  a  word  of  warning 
could  escape  my  lips,  the  cruel  weapon 
descended,  striking  Gabriel  full  upon  the 
head,  sheering  its  way  downward  until  the 
dear  lad  sank  a  lifeless  mass  at  the  feet  of 
that  cur  who  was  not  worthy  to  so  much 
as  kneel  before  him. 

On  the  instant  it  was  as  if  my  eyes  were 
blinded  by  the  crimson  flood  that  followed 
the  stroke  of  the  blade.  There  was  a  sen- 


254:  WITH   THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

sation  as  if  all  my  blood  was  boiling,  and, 
for  the  time  being,  reason  left  me. 

Gavin  Witherspoon  declares  that  I 
wrenched  myself  free  from  the  trooper  who 
held  me,  as  if  the  Britisher  had  been  no 
more  than  a  babe,  that  at  the  same  instant 
I  leaped  upon  the  Tory  murderer,  bearing 
him  to  the  earth  till  his  face  was  sunk  deep 
in  the  blood-stained  moss,  and  with  the 
same  weapon  which  had  let  out  the  life  of 
the  most  gallant  lad  who  ever  lived,  I 
killed  him. 

It  was  done  so  quickly,  Gavin  declares, 
that  the  redcoats  had  no  time  to  interfere 
before  the  work  was  accomplished,  and 
while  they,  horror-stricken  as  it  were  by 
that  which  was  not  warfare  in  any  sense 
of  the  word,  stood  before  us  three — two 
dead  and  one  senseless,  the  remainder  of 
our  squad  fell  upon  them. 

This  last  attack  was  successful;  the 
Britishers  were  beaten  off,  and  our  brave 
fellows  carried  Gabriel's  dear  body,  and 
myself,  back  to  the  rear. 


GABRIEL.  255 

The  attempt  to  capture  Georgetown  was 
a  failure,  now  that  the  enemy  had  been 
warned,  and  our  brigade  beat  a  hasty 
retreat. 

Of  all  that  I  know  nothing  ;  it  was  many 
days  before  my  senses  returned,  and  then 
we  were  encamped  on  Snow's  Island. 

It  is  best  that  I  add  to  my  story  what 
has  been  written  by  one  who  is  a  master 
hand  at  wielding  a  pen,  while  I  am  only  a 
novice,  and  that  I  bring  this  portion  of 
the  adventures  which  befell  Percy  Sumter 
and  myself  to  an  end,  with  the  promise  to 
write  out  at  some  later  day  what  we  two 
did  when  the  work  of  the  patriots  was 
finally  crowned  with  success. 


"The  murder  of  Gabriel  Marion,  with 
some  other  instances  of  brutality  and 
butchery  on  the  part  of  the  Tories,  happen- 
ing about  this  time,  gave  a  more  savage 
,  character  than  ever  to  the  warfare  which 
ensued.  Motives  of  private  anger  and  per 


256  WITH  THE   SWAMP   FOX. 

sonal  revenge  embittered  and  increased  the 
usual  ferocities  of  civil  war ;  and  hun- 
dreds of  dreadful  and  desperate  tragedies 
caused  the  inhabitants  to  pursue  each 
other  rather  like  wild  beasts  than  like 
men. 

"In  the  Cheraw  district,  on  the  Pedee, 
above  the  line  where  Marion  commanded, 
the  warfare  was  one  of  utter  extermi- 
nation. The  revolutionary  struggle  in 
Carolina  was  of  a  sort  unknown  in  any 
other  part  of  the  Union. 

"  The  attempt  upon  Georgetown  was  de- 
feated. The  British  had  taken  the  alarm, 
and  were  now  in  strength,  and  in  a  state 
of  vigilance  and  activity  which  precluded 
the  possibility  of  surprise.  Marion's 
wishes,  therefore,  with  regard  to  this  place, 
were  deferred  accordingly  to  a  more  auspi- 
cious season. 

"  He  retired  to  Snow's  Island,  where  he 
made  his  camp.  It  was  peculiarly  eligible 
for  his  purposes,  furnishing  a  secure  re- 
treat, a  depot  for  his  arms,  ammunition, 


GABRIEL.  257 

prisoners  and  invalids — difficult  of  access, 
easily  guarded,  and  contiguous  to  the 
scenes  of  his  most  active  operations. 

"  Snow's  Island  lies  at  the  confluence  of 
Lynch's  Creek  and  the  Pedee.  On  the  east 
flows  the  latter  river ;  on  the  west,  Clark's 
Creek,  issuing  from  Lynch's  and  a  stream 
navigable  for  small  vessels  ;  on  the  north 
lies  Lynch's  Creek,  wide  and  deep,  but 
nearly  choked  by  rafts  of  logs  and  refuse 
timber.  The  island,  high  river  swamp, 
was  spacious,  and,  like  all  the  Pedee  river 
swamp  of  that  day,  abounded  in  live  stock 
and  provision.  Thick  woods  covered  the 
elevated  tracts,  dense  cane-brakes  the 
lower,  and  here  and  there  the  eye  rested 
upon  a  cultivated  spot,  in  maize,  which  the 
invalids  and  convalescents  were  wont  to 
tend. 

"  Here  Marion  made  his  fortress.  Hav- 
ing secured  all  the  boats  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, he  chose  such  as  he  needed,  and 
destroyed  the  rest.  Where  the  natural 
defenses  of  the  island  seemed  to  require 


258  WITH  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

aid  from  art,  he  bestowed  it ;  and,  by  cut- 
ting away  bridges  and  obstructing  the 
ordinary  pathways  with  timber,  he  con- 
trived to  insulate,  as  much  as  possible,  the 
country  under  his  command. 

"  From  this  fortress  his  scouting  parties 
were  sent  forth  nightly  in  all  directions. 
Enemies  were  always  easy  to  be  found. 
The  British  maintained  minor  posts  at 
Nelson's  Ferry  and  Scott's  Lake,  as  well  as 
Georgetown ;  and  the  Tories  on  Lynch's 
Creek  and  Little  Pedee  were  much  more 
numerous,  if  less  skilfully  conducted,  than 
the  men  of  Marion. 

"  Marion's  encampment  implied  no  re- 
pose, no  forbearance  of  the  active  business 
of  war.  Very  far  from  it.  He  was  never 
more  dangerous  to  an  enemy  than  when 
he  seemed  quiet  in  camp. 

"  His  camp,  indeed,  was  frequently  a 
lure,  by  which  to  tempt  the  Tories  into  un- 
seasonable exposure.  The  post  at  Snow's 
Island  gave  him  particular  facilities  for 
this  species  of  warfare.  He  had  but  to 


GABRIEL.  259 

cross  a  river,  and  a  three  hours'  march  en- 
abled him  to  forage  in  an  enemy's  country. 
u  Reinforcements  came  to  him  daily,  and 
it  was  only  now,  for  the  first  time,  that  his 
command  began  to  assume  the  appear- 
ance, and  exhibit  the  force  of  a  brigade." 

THE  END 


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tures by  sea  and  land,  one  of  the  lads  finds  himself  on  board  a 

Spanish  ship  at  the  time  of  the  defeat  of  the  Armada,  and  escapes 

only  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Corsairs.     He  is  successful  in 

getting  back  to  Spain  under  the  protection  of  a  wealthy  merchant, 

and  regains  his  native  country  after  the  capture  of  Cadiz. 

"  It  is  an  admirable  book  for  youngsters.  It  overflows  with  stirrirg  inci- 
dent and  exciting  adventure,  and  the  color  of  the  era  and  of  the  sc<^ne  are 
finely  reproduced.  The  illustrations  add  to  its  attractiveness."—  Eosta* 
Gazette. 

By  Right  of  Conquest  ;  or,  With  Cortez  in  Mexico.      By  G.  A. 

HENTY.     With  full-page  Illustrations  by  W.  S.  STACET,  and 

Two  Maps.     12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.50. 

The  conquest  of  Mexico  by  a  small  band  of  resolute  men  under 
tbe  magnificent  leadership  of  Cortez  is  always  rightly  ranked 
among  the  most  romantic  and  daring  exploits  in  history.  With 
this  as  the  groundwork  of  his  story  Mr.  Hentv  has  interwoven  the 
adventures  of  an  English  youth,  Roger  Hawkshaw,  the  sole  sur- 
vivor of  the  good  ship  Swan,  which  had  sailed  from  a  Devon  port 
to  challenge  the  mercantile  supremacy  of  the  Spaniards  in  the 
New  World.  He  is  beset  by  many  perils  among  the  natives,  but 
is  saved  by  his  own  judgment  and  strength,  and  by  the  devotion 
«f  an  Aztec  princess.  At  last  by  a  ruse  he  obtains  the  protection 
of  the  Spaniards,  and  after  the  fall  of  Mexico  he  succeeds  in  re 
gaining  his  native  shore,  with  a  fortune  and  a  charming  Aztec 
bride. 

"  '  By  Right  of  Conquest  '  is  the  nearest  approach  to  a  perfectly  successful 
historical  tale  that  Mr.  Henty  has  yet  published."  —  Academy. 


A.  L.  BTJRT'S  PUBLICATIONS. 


In  the  Reign  of  Terror :  The  Adventures  of  a  Westminster  Boy 
By  Q.  A.  HENTY.  With  full-page  Illustrations  by  J.  SCHON 
BERG.  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

Harry  Sandwith,  a  Westminster  boy,  becomes  a  resident  at  tha 
chateau  of  a  French  marquis,  and  after  various  adventures  accom- 
panies the  family  to  Paris  at  the  crisis  of  the  Revolution.  Im- 
prisonment and  death  reduce  tlieir  number,  and  the  hero  finds 
-himself  beset  by  perils  with  the  three  young  daughters  of  th« 
liouse  in  his  charge.  After  hairbreadth  escapes  they  reach  Nan- 
tes. There  the  girls  are  condemned  to  death  in  Ihe  coffin-ships, 
but  are  saved  by  the  unfailing  courage  of  their  boy  protector. 

"  Harry  Sandwith,  the  Westminster  boy,  may  fairly  be  said  to  beat  Mr. 
Henty's  record.  His  adventures  will  delight  boys  by  the  audacity  and  peril 
they  depict.  .  .  .  The  story  is  one  of  Mr.  Henty's  best."—  Saturday 
Review. 

With  Wolfe  in  Canada ;  or,  The  Winning  of  a  Continent.  By 
G.  A.  HENTY.  With  full-page  Illustrations  by  GORDON 
BROWNE.  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

In  the  present  volume  Mr.  Henty  gives  an  account  of  the  strug- 
gle between  Britain  and  France  for  supremacy  in  the  North 
American  continent.  On  the  issue  of  this  war  depended  not  only 
the  destinies  of  North  America,  but  to  a  large  extent  those  of  the 
mother  countries  themselves.  The  fall  of  Quebec  decided  thax 
the  Anglo-Saxon  race  should  predominate  in  the  New  World; 
that  Britain,  and  not  France,  should  take  the  lead  among  the 
nations  of  Europe;  and  that  English  and  American  commerce,  the 
English  language,  and  English  literature,  should  spread  right 
round  the  globe. 

"  It  is  not  orly  a  lesson  in  history  as  instructively  as  it  is  graphically  told, 
but  also  a  deeply  interesting  and  often  thrilling  tale  of  adventure  and  peril  by 
flood  and  field." — Illustrated  London  News. 

True  to  the  Old  Flag :  A  Tale  of  the  American  War  of  Inde- 
pendence.    By  G.  A.  HENTY.     With  full-page  Illustrations  by 
GORDON  BROWNE.     12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 
In  this  story  the  author  has  gone  to  the  accounts  of  officers  who 
took  part  in  the  conflict,  and  lads  will  find  that  in  no  war  in  which 
American  and  British  soldiers  have  been  engaged  did  they  behave 
with  greater  courage  and  good  conduct.     The  historical  portion  of 
the  book  being  accompanied  with  numerous  thrilling  adventures 
with  the  redskins  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Huron,  a  story  of  exciting 
interest  is  interwoven  with   the   general   narrative   and   carried 
through  the  book. 

"  Does  justice  to  the  pluck  and  determination  of  the  British  soldiers  during 
the  unfortunate  struggle  against  American  emancipation.  The  son  of  an 
American  loyalist,  who  remains  true  to  our  flag,  falls  among  the  hostile  red- 
skins  in  that  very  Huron  country  which  has  been  endeared  to  us  by  the  ex 
ploitsof  Hawkeye  and  Chingachgook." — The  Times. 


A.  L,  BURTS  PUBLICATIONS. 


The  Lion  of  St.  Mark :  A  Tale  of  Venice  in  the  Fourteenth 

Century.     By  Q.  A.  HENTY.     With  full-page  Illustrations  by 

GORDON  bROWNE.     12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

A  story  of  Venice  at  a  period  when  her  strength  and  splendor 
were  put  to  the  severest  tests.  The  hero  displays  a  fine  sense  and 
manliness  which  carry  him  safely  through  an  atmosphere  of  in- 
trigue, crime,  and  bloodshed.  He  contributes  largely  to  the  vic« 
tories  of  the  Venetians  at  Porto  d'Anzo  and  Chioggia,  sod  finally 
wins  the  hand  of  the  daughter  of  one  of  the  chief  men  of  Venice. 

"  Every  boy  should  read  '  The  Lion  of  St.  Mark.1  Mr.  Henty  has  never  pro. 
iuced  a  story  more  delightful,  more  wholesome,  or  more  vivacious." — Satw 
day  Review. 

A  Final  Reckoning:  A  Tale  of  Bush  Life  in  Australia.  ByQ.  A 
HENTY.  With  full-page  Illustrations  by  W.  B.  WOLLKN 
12nao,  cloth,  price  $1.00, 

The  hero,  a  young  English  lad.  after  rather  a  stormy  boyhood 
emigrates'to  Australia,  and  gets  employment  as  an  officer  in  th? 
mounted  police.  A  few  years  of  active  work  on  the  frontier, 
where  he  has  many  a  brush  with  both  natives  and  bushrangers, 
gain  him  promotion  to  a  captaincy,  and  he  eventually  settle? 
down  to  the  peaceful  life  of  a  squatter. 

"  Mr.  Henty  has  never  published  a  more  readable,  a  more  carefully  con- 
structed, or  a  better  written  story  than  this."— Spectator. 

Under  Drake's  Flag :  A  Tale  of  the  Spanish  Main.     By  G.  A. 

HENTY.     With   full-page  Illustrations  by  GORDON  BROWNE. 

12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

A  story  of  the  days  when  England  and  Spain  struggled  for  the 
supremacy  of  the  sea.  The  heroes  sail  as  lads  with  Drake  in  the 
Pacific  expedition,  and  in  his  great  voyage  of  circumnavigation. 
The  historical  portion  of  the  story  is  absolutely  to  be  relied  upon, 
but  this  will  perhaps  be  less  attractive  than  the  great  variety  of 
exciting  adventure  through  which  the  young  heroes  pass  in  the 
course  of  their  voyages. 

"  A  book  of  adventure,  where  the  hero  meets  with  experience  enough,  one 
would  think,  to  turn  his  hair  gray." — Harper' 's  Monthly  Magazine. 

By  Sheer  Pluck  :  A  Tale  of  the  Ashanti  War.     By  G.  A.  HENTY. 

With  full-page    Illustrations    by  GORDON    BROWNE.     12mo; 

cloth,  price  $1.00. 

The  author  has  woven,  in  a  tale  of  thrilling  interest,  all  the  de 
tails  of  the  Ashanti  campaign,  of  which  he  was  himself  a  witness 
His  hero,  after  many  exciting  adventures  in  the  interior,  is  de- 
tained a  prisoner  by  the  king  just  before  the  outbreak  of  the  war. 
but  escapes,  and  accompanies  the  English  expedit'on  on  their 
march  to  Coomassie. 

"  Mr.  Henty  keeps  up  his  reputation  as  a  writer  •£  boys'  stories.  '  By  Sheei 
Pluck  '  will  be  eagerly  read."—  Athenaeum. 


6  A.  L.  BURT'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

By  Pike  and  Dyke  :  A  Tale  of  the  Rise  of  the  Dutch  Republic 
By  G.  A.  HENTY.     With  full-page  Illustrations  by  MAYNARD 
BROWN,  and  4  Maps.     12ino,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 
In  this  story  Mr.  Henty  traces  the  adventures  and  brave  deeds 
of  an  English  boy  in  the  household  of  the  ablest  man  of  his  age — 
William  the  Silent.     Edward  Martin,  the  son  of  an  English  sea- 
captain,  enters  the  service  of  the  Prince  as  a  volunteer,  and  is  em- 
ployed  by  him  in  many  dangerous  and  responsible  missions,  in  the 
discharge  of  which  he  passes  through  the  great  sieges  of  the  tkne. 
He  ultimately  settles  down  as  Sir  Edward  Martin. 

"  Boys  with  a  turn  for  historical  research  will  be  enchanted  with  the  book, 
while  the  rest  who  only  care  for  adventure.will  be  students  in  spite  of  them- 
selves."—Si.  James*  Gazette. 

St.  George  for  England  :  A  Tale  of  Cressy  and  Poitiers.  By 
G.  A.  HENTY.  With  full-page  Illustrations  by  GORDON 
BROWNE.  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

No  portion  of  English  history  is  more  crowded  with  great  events 
than  that  of  the  reign  of  Edward  III.  Cressy  and  Poitiers;  the 
destruction  of  the  Spanish  fleet;  the  plague  of  the  Black  Death: 
tbe  Jacquerie  rising;  these  are  treated  by  the  author  in  "  St. 
George  for  England."  The  hero  of  tbe  story,  although  of  good 
family,  begins  life  as  a  London  apprentice,  but  after  countless  ad 
ventures  and  perils  becomes  by  valor  and  good  conduct  the  squire, 
and  at  last  the  trusted  friend  of  the  Black  Prince. 

"Mr.  Henty  has  developed  for  himself  a  type  of  historical  novel  for  bora 
which  bids  fair  to  supplement,  on  their  behalf,  the  historical  labors  of  Sir 
Walter  Scott  in  the  land  of  fiction.1'— The  Standard. 

Captain's  Kidd's  Gold :  The  True  Story  of  an  Adventurous  Sailoi 
Boy.  By  JAMES  FRANKLIN  FITTS.  12mo,  clotn,  price  $1.00. 
There  is  something  fascinating  to  tho  average  youth  in  tlie  very 
idea  of  buried  treasure.  A  vision  arises  before  his  eyes  of  swarthy 
Portuguese  and  Spanish  rascals,  with  black  beards  and  gleaming 
eyes — sinister-looking  fellows  who  once  on  a  time  haunted  the 
Spanish  Main,  sneaking  out  from  some  hidden  creek  in  their  loag, 
low  schooner,  of  picaroonish  rake  and  sheer,  to  attack  an  unsus- 
pecting trading  craft.  There  were  many  famous  sea  rovers  in 
their  day,  but  none  more  celebrated  than  Capt.  Kidd.  Perhaps 
the  most  fascinating  tale  of  all  is  Mr.  Fitts'  true  story  of  an  adven 
turous  American  boy,  who  receives  from  his  dying  father  an 
ancient  bit  of  vellum,  which  the  latter  obtained  in  a  curious  way. 
The  document  bears  obscure  directions  purporting  to  locate  a  cer- 
tain island  in  the  Bahama  group,  and  a  considerable  treasure 
buried  there  by  two  of  Kidd's  crew.  The  hero  of  this  book, 
Paul  Jones  Garry,  is  an  ambitious,  persevering  lad,  of  salt-water 
New  England  ancestry,  and  uis  efforts  to  reach  the  island  and 
secure  the  money  form  one  of  the  most  absorbing  tales  for  o»* 
youth  that  has  come  fxQm  the  press. 


A.  L.  BTJRT'S  PUBLICATIONS. 


Captain  Bayley's  Heir:  A  Tale  of  the  Gold  Fields  of  California 
By  G.  A.  HENTY.  With  full-page  Illustrations  by  H.  M. 
PASBT.  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

A  frank,  manly  lad  and  his  cousin  are  rivals  in  the  heirship'of  a 
tonsiderable  property.  The  former  falls  into  a  trap  laid  by  the 
latter,  and  while  under  a  false  accusation  of  theft  foolishly  leaves 
England  for  America.  He  works  his  passage  before  the  mast, 
joins  a  small  band  of  hunters,  crosses  a  tract  of  country  infested 
with  Indians  to  the  Californian  gold  diggings,  and  is  successful 
both  as  digger  and  trader. 

"Mr.  Henty  is  careful  to  mingle  instruction  with  entertainment;  and  the 
humorous  touches,  especially  in  the  sketch  of  John  Holl,  the  Westminster 
dustman,  Dickens  himself  could  hardly  have  excelled."— Christ ian  Leader. 

For  Name  and  Fame  ;  or,  Through  Afghan  Passes.      By  G.  A. 

HENTY.     With  full-page  Illustrations  by  GORDON  BROWNE. 

12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

An  interesting  story  of  the  last  war  in  Afghanistan.  The  hero, 
after  being  wrecked  and  going  through  many  stirring  adventures 
among  the  Malays,  finds  his  way  to  Calcutta  and  enlists  in  a  regi- 
ment proceeding  to  join  the  army  at  the  Afghan  passes.  He  ac- 
companies the  force  under  General  Roberts  to  the  Peiwar  Kotal, 
is  wounded,  taken  prisoner,  carried  to  Cabul,  whence  he  is  trans- 
ferred to  Candahar,  and  takes  part  in  the  final  defeat  of  the  army 
of  Ayoub  Khan. 

"The  best  feature  of  the  book— apart  from  the  interest  of  its  scenes  of  ad- 
venture—is its  honest  effort  to  do  justice  to  the  patriotism  of  the  Afghan 
people." — Daily  News. 

Captured  by  Apes  :  The  Wonderful  Adventures  of  a  Young 
Animal  Trainer.  By  HARRY  PRENTICE.  ISino,  cloth,  $1.0§. 
The  scene  of  this  tale  is  laid  on  an  island  in  the  Malay  Archi- 
pelago. Philip  Garland,  a  young  animal  collector  and  trainer,  of 
•  New  York,  sets  sail  for  Eastern  seas  in  quest  of  a  new  stock  of 
living  curiosities.  The  vessel  is  wrecked  off  the  coast  of  Bornee 
and  young  Garland,  the  sole  survivor  of  the  disaster,  is  cast  ashore 
on  a  small  island,  and  captured  by  the  apes  that  overrun  the 
place.  The  lad  discovers  that  the  ruling  spirit  of  the  monkey 
tribe  is  a  gigantic  and  vicious  baboon,  whom  he  identifies  as 
Goliah,  an  animal  at  one  time  in  his  possession  and  with  whose 
instruction  he  had  been  especially  diligent.  The  brute  recognizes 
him,  and  with  a  kind  of  malignant  satisfaction  puts  his  former 
master  through  the  same  course  of  training  he  had  himself  ex- 
perienced with  a  faithfulness  of  detail  which  sh^vs  how  astonish- 
ing is  monkey  recollection.  Very  novel  indeed  i?  the  way  by 
which  the  young  man  escapes  death.  Mr.  Prentice  has  certainly 
worked  a  new  vein  on  juvenile  fiction,  and  the  ability  with  whicl» 
he  handles  a  difficult  subject  stamp*  him  as  a  writer  oi  uudoubtei 

gkJM. 


A.  L.  BURT'S  PUBLICATIONS. 


The  Bravest  of  the  Brave;  or,  With  Peterborough    in  Spain. 

By  Q.    A.    HENTY.     With   full-page  Illustrations  by   H.    M. 

PAGET.     12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

There  are  few  great  leaders  whose  lives  and  actions  have  so 
completely  fallen  into  oblivion  as  those  of  the  Earl  of  Peter- 
borough. This  is  largely  due  to  the  fact  that  they  were  or«r- 
shadowed  by  the  glory  and  successes  of  Marlborough.  His  career 
as  general  extended  over  little  more  than  a  year,  and  yet,  in  that 
time,  he  showed  a  genius  for  warfare  which  has  never  been  sur- 
passed. 

"  Mr.  Henty  never  loses  sight  of  the  moral  purpose  of  his  work— to  anf  or«e 
the  doctrine  of  courage  and  truth.  Lads  will  read  '  The  Bravest  of  the  Brave  ' 
with  pleasure  and  profit;  of  that  we  are  quite  sure."— Daily  Telegraph. 

The  Cat  of  Bubastes  :  A  Story  of  Ancient  Egypt.     By  G.  A. 

HENTY.   With  full  page  Illustrations.  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

A  story  which  will  give  young  readers  an  unsurpassed  insight 
into  the  customs  of  the  Egyptian  people.  Amuba,  a  prince  of  the 
Rebu  nation,  is  carried  with  his  charioteer  Jethro  into  slavery. 
They  become  inmates  of  the  house  of  Ameres,  the  Egyptian  high- 
priest,  and  are  happy  in  his  service  until  the  priest's  son  acci- 
dentally kills  the  sacred  cat  of  Bubastes.  In  an  outburst  of  popular 
fury  Ameres  is  killed,  and  it  rests  with  Jethro  and  Amuba  to 
secure  the  escape  of  the  high-priest's  son  and  daughter. 

"  The  story,  from  the  critical  moment  of  the  killing  of  the  sacred  cat  to  the 
perilous  exodus  into  Asia  with  which  it  closes,  is  very  skillfully  constructed 
and  full  of  exciting  adventures.  It  is  admirably  illustrated."— Saturday 
Review. 

With  Washington  at  Monmouth  :  A  Story  of  Three  Phila- 
delphia Boys.  By  JAMBS  OTIS.  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 
Three  Philadelphia  boys,  Seth  Qraydon  "  whose  mother  con- 
ducted a  boarding-house  which  was  patronized  by  the  British 
officers;"  Enoch  Ball,  "son  of  that  Mrs.  Ball  whose  dancing 
school  was  situated  on  Letitia  Street,"  and  little  Jacob,  son  of 
61  Chris,  the  Baker,"  serve  as  the  principal  characters.  The 
story  is  laid  during  the  winter  when  Lord  Howe  held  possession 
of  the  city,  and  the  lads  aid  the  cause  by  assisting  the  American 
spies  who  make  regular  and  frequent  visits  from  Valley  Forge. 
One  reads  here  of  home-life  in  the  captive  city  when  bread  was 
scarce  among  the  people  of  the  lower  classes,  and  a  reckless  prodi- 
gality shown  by  the  British  officers,  who  passed  the  winter  in 
feasting  and  merry-making  while  the  members  of  the  patriot  army 
but  a  few  miles  away  were  suffering  from  both  cold  and  hunger. 
The  story  abounds  with  pictures  of  Colonial  life  skillfully 
drawn,  and  the  glimpses  of  Washington's  soldiers  which  are  given 
show  that  the  work  has  not  been  hastily  done,  or  without  con 
siderable  study. 


A.  L.  HURT'S  PTTBLICATTONS.  9 

For  the  Temple:  A  Tale  of  the  Fall  of  Jerusalem.    By  G.  A. 

HENTY.  With  full-page  Illustrations  by  S.  J.  SOLOMON.  12ino, 

cloth,  price  $1.00. 

Mr.  Henty  here  weaves  into  the  record  of  Josephus  an  admirable 
and  attractive  story.  The  troubles  in  the  district  of  Tiberias,  the 
march  of  the  legions,  the  sieges  of  Jotapata,  of  Gamala,  and  of 
Jerusalem,  form  the  impressive  and  carefully  studied  historic 
setting  to  the  figure  of  the  lad  who  passes  from  the  vineyard  to 
the  service  of  Josephus,  becomes  the  leader  of  a  guerrilla  band  of 
patriots,  fights  bravely  for  the  Temple,  and  after  a  brief  term  of 
slavery  at  Alexandria,  returns  to  his  Galilean  home  with  the  favor 
of  Titus. 

"  Mr.  Henty's  graphic  prose  pictures  of  the  hopeless  Jewish  resistance  to 
Roman  sway  add  another  leaf  to  his  record  of  the  famous  wars  of  the  world." 
— Graphic. 

Facing  Death  ;  or,  The  Hero  of  the  Vaughan  Pit.     A  Tale  of 
the  Coal  Mines.     By  G.   A.   HENTY.     With  full-page  Illustra- 
tions by  GORDON  BKOWNE.     12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 
"Facing  Death"  is  a  story  with  a  purpose.     It  is  intended  to 
show  that  a  lad  who  makes  up  his  mind  firmly  and  resolutely  that 
he  will  rise  in  life,  and  who  is  prepared  to  face  toil  and  ridicule 
and  hardship  to  carry  out  his  determination,  is  sure  to  succeed. 
The  hero  of  the  story  is  a  typical    British   boy,  dogged,  earnest, 
generous,  and  though  "  shamefaced"  to  a  degree,  is  ready  to  face 
death  in  the  discharge  of  duty. 

"  The  tale  is  well  written  and  well  illustrated,  and  there  is  much  reality  in 
the  characters.  If  any  father,  clergyman,  or  schoolmaster  is  on  the  lookout 
for  a  good  book  to  give  as  a  present  to  a  boy  who  is  worth  his  salt,  this  is  the 
book  we  would  recommend." — Standard. 

Tom  Temple's  Career.    By  HORATIO   ALGER.     12mo,   cloth, 

price  $1.00. 

Tom  Temple,  a  bright,  self-reliant  lad,  by  the  death  of  his 
father  becomes  a  boarder  at  the  home  of  Nathan  Middleton,  a 
penurious  insurance  agent.  Though  well  paid  for  keeping  the 
boy,  Nathan  and  his  wife  endeavor  to  bring  Master  Tom  in  line 
with  their  parsimonious  habits.  The  lad  ingeniously  evades  their 
efforts  and  revolutionizes  the  household.  As  Tom  is  heir  to 
$40,000,  he  is  regarded  as  a  person  of  some  importance  until  by 
an  unfortunate  combination  of  circumstances  his  fortune  shrinks 
to  a  few  hundreds.  He  leaves  Plympton  village  to  seek  work  in 
New  York,  whence  he  undertakes  an  important  mission  to  Cali- 
fornia, around  which  center  the  most  exciting  incidents  of  his 
young  career.  Some  of  his  adventures  in  the  far  west  are  se 
startling  that  the  reader  will  scarcely  close  the  book  until  the  last 
>»age  shall  have  been  reached.  The  tale  is  written  in  Mr.  Alger's 
most  fascinating  style,  and  is  bound  to  please  the  pery  large  class 
of  boys  who  regard  this  popular  author  as  a  prime  favorite. 


10  A.  L.  BURT'S  PUBLICATIONS, 


Maori  and  Settler:  A  Story  of  the  New  Zealand  War.  By 
G.  A.  HENTY.  With  full-page  Illustrations  by  ALFRED  PEARSE. 
12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

The  Renshaws  emigrate  to  New  Zealand  during  the  period  of 
the  war  with  the  natives.  Wilfrid,  a  strong,  self-reliant,  coura- 
geous lad,  is  the  mainstay  of  the  household.  He  has  for  his  friend 
Mr.  Atherton,  a  botanist  and  naturalist  of  herculean  strength  and 
unfailing  nerve  and  humor.  In  the  adventures  among  the  Maoris, 
there  are  many  breathless  inoatents  in  which  the  odds  seem  hope- 
lessly against  the  party,  but  they  succeed  in  establishing  them- 
selves happily  in  one  of  the  pleasant  New  Zealand  valleys 

"Brimful  of  adventure,  of  humorous  and  interesting  conversation,  and 
vivid  pictures  of  colonial  life."— Schoolmaster. 

Julian  Mortimer]:  A  Brave  Boy's  Struggle  for  Home  and  Fortune. 

By  HARRY  CASTLEMON.     12ino,  cloth,  price  $  1. 00. 

Here  is  a  story  that  will  warm  every  boy's  heart.  There  is 
mystery  enough  to  keep  any  lad's  imagination  wound  up  to  the 
highest  pitch.  The  scene  of  the  story  lies  west  of  the  Mississippi 
River,  in  the  days  when  emigrants  made  their  perilous  way  across 
the  great  plains  to  the  land  of  gold.  One  of  the  startling  features 
of  the  book  is  the  attack  upon  the  wagon  train  by  a  large  party  of 
Indians.  Our  hero  is  a  lad  of  uncommon  nerve  and  pluck,  a  brave 
young  American  in  every  sense  of  the  word.  He  enlists  and  holds 
the  reader's  sympathy  from  the  outset.  Surrounded  by  an  un- 
known and  constant  peril,  and  assisted  by  the  unswerving  fidelity 
of  a  stalwart  trapper,  a  real  rough  diamond,  our  hero  achieves  the 
most  happy  results.  Harry  Castlemon  has  written  many  enter- 
taining stories  for  boys,  and  it  would  seem  almost  superfluous  to 
say  anything  in  his  praise,  for  the  youth  of  America  regard  him 
as  a  favorite  author. 

"Carrots:"  Just  a  Little  Boy.  By  MRS.  MOLESWORTH.  With 
Illustrations  by  WALTER  CRANE.  12mo,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

"  One  of  the  cleverest  and  most  pleasing  stories  it  has  been  our  good  for- 
tune to  meet  with  for  some  time.  Carrots  and  his  sister  are  delightful  littla 
beings,  whom  to  read  about  is  at  once  to  become  very  fond  of."— Examiner. 

"A  genuine  children's  book;  we've  seen  'em  seize  it,  and  read  it  greedily. 
Children  are  first-rate  critics,  and  thoroughly  appreciate  Walter  Crane's 
illustrations."— Punch. 

Mopsa  the  Fairy.  By  JEAN  INGELOW.  With  Eight  page 
Illustrations.  12rno,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

"Mrs.  Ingelow  is,  to  our  mind,  the  most  charming  of  all  living  writers  for 
children,  and  '  Mopsa'  alone  ought  to  give  her  a  kind  of  pre-emptive  right  to 
the  love  and  gratitude  of  our  young  folks.  It  requires  genius  to  conceive  a 
purely  imaginary  work  which  must  of  necessity  deal  with  the  supernatural, 
without  running  into  a  mere  riot  of  fantastic  absurdity ;  but  genius  Miss  In- 
gelow has  and  the  story  of  '  Jack  '  is  as  careless  and  joyous,  but  as  deliuar.e. 
as'a  picture  of  childhood."— Eclectic, 


A.  L.  BURT'S  PUBLICATIONS.  11 

A,  Jaunt  Through  Java :  The  Story  of  &  Journey  to  the  Sacred 
Mountain.  B/  EDWARD  S.  ELLIS.  12nio,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 
The  central  interest  of  this  story  is  found  in  the  thrilling  ad. 
ventures  of  two  cousins,  Hermon  and  Eustace  Hadley,  on  their 
trip  across  the  island  of  Java,  from  Samarangtothe  Sacred  Moun- 
tain. In  a  land  where  the  Royal  Bengal  tiger  runs  at  large; 
where  the  rhinoceros  and  other  fierce  beasts  are  to  be  met  with 
at  unexpected  moments;  it  is  but  natural  that  the  heroes  of  this 
book  should  have  a  lively  experience.  Hermon  not  only  dis- 
tinguishes himself  by  killing  a  full-grown  tiger  at  short  range, 
but  meets  with  the  most  startling  adventure  of  the  journey. 
There  is  much  in  this  narrative  to  instruct  as  well  a~  entertain  the 
reader,  and  so  deftly  has  Mr.  Ellis  used  his  material  that  theie  is 
not  a  dulJ  page  in  the  book.  The  two  heroes  are  brave,  manly 
young  fellows,  bubbling  over  with  boyish  independence.  They 
cope  with  the  many  difficulties  that  arise  during  the  trip  in  a  fear- 
less way  that  is  bound  to  win  the  admiration  of  every  lad  who  is 
so  fortunate  as  to  read  their  adventures. 

Wrecked  on  Spider  Island;  or,   How  Ned  Rogers  Found  the 

Treasure.     By  JAMES  OTIS.     12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

A  "  down-east"  plucky  lad  who  ships  as  cabin  boy,  not  from 
love  of  adventure,  but  because  it  is  the  only  course  remaining  by 
which  he  can  gain  a  livelihood.  While  in  his  bunk,  seasick, 
Ned  Rogers  hears  the  captain  and  mate  discussing  their  plans  for 
the  willful  wreck  of  the  brig  in  order  to  gain  the  insurance.  Once 
it  is  known  he  is  in  possession  of  the  secret  the  captain  maroons 
him  on  Spider  Island,  explaining  to  the  crew  that  the  boy  is 
afflicted  with  leprosy.  While  thus  involuntarily  playing  the  part 
of  a  Crusoe,  Ned  discovers  a  wreck  submerged  in  the  sand,  and 
overhauling  the  timbers  for  the  purpose  ot  gathering  material 
with  which  to  build  a  hut  finds  a  considerable  amount  of  treasure. 
Raising  the  wreck;  a  voyasre  to  Havana  under  sail;  shipping  there 
a  crew  and  running  for  Savannah;  the  attempt  of  the  crew  to 
seize  the  little  craft  after  learning  of  the  treasure  on  board,  and, 
as  a  matter  of  course,  the  successful  ending  of  the  journey,  all 
serve  to  make  as  entertaining  a  story  of  sea  life  as  the  most 
captious  boy  could  desire. 
Geoff  and  Jim :  A  Story  of  School  Life.  By  ISMAY  THORN.  II 

lustrated  by  A.  G.  WALKER.     ISino,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

"  This  is  a  prettily  told  story  of  the  life  spent  by  two  motherless  bairns  at 
a  small  preparatory  school.  Both  Geoff  and  Jim  are  very  lovable  characters, 
only  Jim  is  the  more  so;  and  the  scrajjes  he  gets  into  and  the  trials  he  en- 
dures will,  110  doubt,  interest  a  large  circle  of  young  readers."— CAurcA 

'"This  is  a  capital  children's  story,  the  characters  well  portrayed,  aud  the 
book  tastefully  bound  and  well  illustrated."— Schoolmaster. 

"  The  story  can  be  heartily  recommended  as  a  present  for  hojra.  '— 
Standard. 


12  A.  L.  BURT'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

The  Castaways  ;  or,  On  the  Florida  Reefs.     By  JAMES  OTIS. 

12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

This  tale  smacks  of  the  salt  sea.  It  is  just  the  kind  of  story 
that  the  majority  of  boys  yearn  for.  From  the  moment  that  the 
Sea  Queen  dispenses  with  the  services  of  the  tug  in  lower  New 
York  bay  till  the  breeze  leaves  her  becalmed  off  the  coast  of 
Florida,  one  can  almost  hear  the  whistle  of  the  wind  through  her 
rigging,  the  creak  of  her  straining  cordage  as  she  heels  to  the 
leeward,  and  feel  her  rise  to  the  snow-capped  waves  which  her 
sharp  bow  cuts  into  twin  streaks  of  foam.  Off  Marquesas  Keys 
she  floats  in  a  dead  calm.  Ben  Clark,  the  hero  of  the  story,  and 
Jake,  the  cook,  spy  a  turtle  asleep  upon  the  glassy  surface  of  the 
water.  They  determine  to  capture  him,  and  take  a  boat  for  that 
purpose,  and  just  as  they  succeed  in  catching  him  a  thick  fog 
cuts  them  off  from  the  vessel,  and  then  their  troubles  bee  in. 
They  take  refuge  on  board  a  drifting  hulk,  a  storm  arises  and  they 
are  cast  ashore  upon  a  low  sandy  key.  Their  adventures  from 
this  point  cannot  fail  to  charm  the  reader.  As  a  writer  for  young 
people  Mr.  Otis  is  a  prime  favorite.  His  style  is  captivating,  and 
never  for  a  moment  does  he  allow  the  interest  to  flag.  In  "  The 
Castaways  "  he  is  at  his  best. 

Tom  Thatcher's  Fortune.    By  HOHATIO  ALGEK,  JR.     12mo, 

cloth,  price  $1.00. 

Like  all  of  Mr.  Alger's  heroes,  Tom  Thatcher  is  a  brave,  am- 
bitious, unselfish  boy.  He  supports  his  mother  and  sister  on 
meager  wages  earned  as  a  shoe-pegger  in  John  Simpson's  factory. 
The  story  begins  with  Tom's  discharge  from  the  factory,  because 
Mr.  Simpson  felt  annoyed  with  the  lad  for  interrogating  him  too 
closely  about  his  missing  father.  A  few  days  afterward  Tom 
learns  that  which  induces  him  to  start  overland  for  California  with 
the  view  of  probing  the  family  mystery.  He  meets  with  many  ad- 
ventures. Ultimately  he  returns  to  his  native  village,  bringing  con- 
sternation to  the  soul  of  John  Simpson,  who  only  escapes  thfe  con- 
sequences of  his  villainy  by  making  full  restitution  to  the  man 
whose  friendship  he  had  betrayed.  The  story  is  told  in  that  en- 
tertaining way  which  has  made  Mr.  Alger's  name  a  household 
•word  in  so  many  homes. 

Birdie :  A  Tale  of  Child  Life.     By  H.  L.  CHILDE-PEMBERTON,, 
Illustrated  by  H.  W.  RAINEY.     I2mo,  cloth,  price  75  cants. 

4i  The  story  is  quaint  and  simple,  but  there  is  a  freshness  about  it  that 
makes  one  Hear  again  the  ringing  laugh  and  the  cheery  shout  of  children  at 
play  which  charmed  his  earlier  years." — New  York  Express. 

Popular  Fairy  Tales.    By  the  BROTHERS  GRIMM.     Profusely 
Illustrated,  12mo,  clotb,  price  $1.00. 

"  From  first  to  last,  almost  without  exception,  these  stories  are  delight* uL" 
— Athenaeum. 


A,  L    BURT'S  PUBLICATION.  IS 

With  Lafayette  at  Yorktown :  A  Story  of  How  Two  Boys 
Joined  the  Continental  Army.  By  JAMES  OTIS.  12mo,  cloth, 
price  $1.00. 

The  two  boys  are  from  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  and  are  introQuced 
in  August,  1781,  when  on  the  point  of  leaving  home  to  enlist  in 
Col.  Scammell's  regiment,  then  stationed  near  New  York  City. 
Their  method  of  traveling  is  on  horseback,  and  the  author  has 
given  an  interesting  account  of  what  was  expected  from  boys  in 
the  Colonial  days.  The  lads,  after  no  slight  amount  of  adventure, 
lire  seat  as  messengers — not  soldiers — into  the  south  to  find  th» 
troops  under  Lafayette.  Once  with  that  youthful  general  they 
ure  given  employment  as  spies,  and  enter  the  British  camp, 
bringing  away  valuable  information.  The  pictures  of  camp-life 
are  carefully  drawn,  and  the  portrayal  of  Lafayette's  character  is 
thoroughly  well  done.  The  story  is  wholesome  in  tone,  as  are  all 
of  Mr.  Otis'  works.  There  is  no  lack  of  exciting  incident  which 
the  youthful  reader  craves,  but  it  is  healthful  excitement  brim- 
ming with  facts  which  every  boy  should  be  familiar  with,  and 
while  the  reader  is  following  the  adventures  of  Ben  Jaffreys  and 
Ned  Allen  he  is  acquiring  a  fund  of  historical  lore  which  will 
remain  in  his  memory  long  after  that  which  he  has  memorized 
from  text- books  has  been  forgotten. 

Lost  in  the  Canon  :  Sain  Willett's  Adventures  on  the  Great 
Colorado.  By  ALFRED  R.  CALHODN.  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 
This  story  hinges  on  a  fortune  left  to  Sam  Willett,  the  hero, 
and  the  fact  that  it  will  pass  to  a  disreputable  relative  if  the  lad 
dies  befou  be  shall  have  reached  his  majority.  The  Vigilance 
Committee  of  Hurley's  Gulch  arrest  Sam's  father  and  an  associate, 
for  the  crime  of  murder.  Their  lives  depend  on  the  production 
of  the  receipt  given  for  money  paid.  This  is  in  Sam's  possession! 
at  the  camp  on  the  other  side  of  the  canon.  A  messenger  is  dis- 
patched to  get  it.  He  reaches  the  lad  in  the  midst  of  a  fearfu/ 
storm  which  floods  the  canon.  His  father's  peril  urges  Sam  to 
action.  A  raft  is  built  on  which  the  boy  and  his  friends  essay  to 
cross  the  torrent.  They  fail  to  do  so,  and  a  desperate  trip  down 
the  stream  ensues.  How  the  party  Bnally  escape  from  the  hor- 
rors of  their  situation  and  Sam  reaches  Hurley's  Gulch  in  the  very 
nick  of  time,  is  described  in  a  graphic  style  that  stamps  Mr.  Cal- 
'aoun  as  a  master  of  his  art. 

Jack :  A  Topsy  Turvy  Story.  By  C.  M.  CRAWLEY-BOEVET 
With  upward  of  Thirty  Illustrations  by  H.  J.  A.  MILES. 
12mo,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

"  The  illustrations  deserve  particular  mention,  as  they  add  largely  to  the 
interest  of  this  amusing  volume  for  children.  Jack  falls  asleep  with  his  mind 
full  of  the  subject  of  the  fishpond,  and  is  very  much  surprised  presently  to 
Olid  himself  an  inhabitant  of  Waterworld,  where  he  goes  though  wonderful 
aud  edifying  adventures.  A  handsome  and  pleasant  book." — Literaru  World. 


14  A.  L.  BURT'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

Search  for  the  Silver  City  :  A  Tale    of  Adventure  in  Yucatau. 

By  JAMES  OTIS.     12uio,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

Two  American  lads,  Teddy  Wright  and  Neal  Emery,  embark 
on  the  steaui  yacht  Day  Dream  for  a  short  summer  cruise  to  the 
tropics.  Homeward  bound  the  yacht  is  destroyed  by  fire.  All 
hands  take  to  the  boats,  but  during  the  night  the  boat  is  cast  upon 
the  coast  of  Yucatan.  They  come  across  a  young  American 
named  Cumtnings,  who  entertains  them  with  the  story  of  the 
wonderful  Silver  City,  of  the  Chan  Santa  Cruz  Indians.  Cuni- 
niings  proposes  with  the  aid  of  a  faithful  Indian  ally  to  brave 
the  perils  df  the  swamp  and  carry  off  a  number  of  the  golden 
images  from  the  temples.  Pursued  with  relentless  vigor  for  days 
their  situation  is  desperate.  At  last  their  escape  is  effected  in  an 
astonishing  manner.  Mr.  Otis  has  built  his  story  on  an  historical 
foundation.  It  is  so  full  of  exciting  incidents  that  the  reader  is 
quite  carried  away  with  the  novelty  and  realism  of  the  narrative. 

Frank  Fowler,  the  Cash  Boy.  By  HORATIO  ALGER,  JR.   12uio, 

cloth,  price  $1.00. 

Thrown  upon  his  own  resources  Frank  Fowler,  a  poor  boy, 
bravely  determines  to  make  a  living  for  himself  and  his  foster- 
sister  Grace.  Going  to  New  York  he  obtains  a  situation  as  cash 
boy  in  a  dry  goods  store.  He  renders  a  service  to  a  wealthy  old 
gentleman  named  Wharton.  who  takes  a  fancy  to  the  lad.  Frank, 
after  losing  his  place  as  cash  boy,  is  enticed  by  an  enemy  to  a 
lonesome  part  of  New  Jersey  and  held  a  prisoner.  This  move  re- 
coils upon  the  plotter,  for  it  leads  to  a  clue  that  enables  the  lad  to 
establish  his  real  identity.  Mr.  Alger's  stories  are  not  only  un- 
usually interesting,  but  they  convey  a  useful  lesson  of  pluck  aud 
manly  independence. 

Budd  Boyd's  Triumph;  or,  the  Boy  Firm  of  Fox  Island.  By 
WILLIAM  P.  CHIPMAN.  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 
The  scene  of  this  story  is  laid  on  the  upper  part  of  Narragansett 
Bay,  and  the  leading  incidents  have  a  strong  salt  water  flavor. 
Owing  to  the  conviction  of  his  father  for  forgery  and  theft,  Budd 
Boyd  is  compelled  to  leave  his  home  and  strike  out  for  himself. 
Chance  brings  Budd  in  contact  with  Judd  Floyd.  The  two  boys, 
being  ambitious  and  clear  sighted,  form  a  partnership  to  catch 
and  sell  fish.  The  scheme  is  successfully  launched,  but  the  un- 
expected appearance  on  the  scene  of  Thomas  Bagsley  the  man 
whom  Budd  believes  guilty  of  the  crimes  attributed  to  his  father, 
leads  to  several  disagreeable  complications  that  nearly  caused  the 
lad's  ruin.  His  pluck  and  good  sense,  however,  carry  him  through 
his  troubles.  In  following  the  career  of  the  boy  firm  of  Boyd  & 
Floyd,  the  youthful  reader  will  find  a  useful  lesson — that  industry 
and  perseverance  are  bound  to  lead  to  ultimate  success. 


A.  L.  BURT'S  PUBLICATIONS.  15 

The  Errand  Boy;  or,  How  Phil  Brent  Won  Success.  By 
HORATIO  ALGER,  JR.  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 
The  career  of  "  The  Errand  Boy"  embraces  the  city  adventures 
of  a  smart  country  lad  who  at  an  early  age  was  abandoned  by  his 
father.  Philip  was  brought  up  by  a  kind-hearted  innkeeper 
named  Brent.  The  death  of  Mrs.  Brent  paved  the  way  for  the 
hero's  subsequent  troubles.  Accident  introduces  him  to  the 
notice  of  a  retired  merchant  in  New  York,  who  not  only  secures 
him  the  situation  of  errand  boy  but  thereafter  stands  as  his 
friend.  An  unexpected  turn  of  fortune's  wheel,  however,  brings 
Philip  and  his  father  together.  In  "The  Errand  Boy"  Philip 
Brent  is  possessed  of  the  same  sterling  qualities  so  conspicuous  in 
all  of  the  previous  creations  of  this-delightful  writer  for  our  youth,. 

The  Slate  Picker  :  The  Story  of  a  Boy's  Life  in  the  Coal  Mines. 

By  HARRY  PRENTICE.     12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

This  is  a  story  of  a  boy's  life  in  the  coal  mines  of  Pennsylvania. 
There  are  many  thrilling  situations,  notably  that  of  Ben  Burton's 
leap  into  the  "  lion's  mouth  " — the  yawning  shute  in  the  breakers 
— to  escape  a  beating  at  the  hands  of  the  savage  Spilkins,  the 
overseer.  Gracie  Gordon  is  a  little  angel  in  rags,  Terence  O'Dowd 
is  a  manly,  sympathetic  lad,  and  Enoch  Evans,  the  miner-poet,  is 
a  big-hearted,  honest  fellow,  a  true  friend  to  all  whose  bur- 
dens seem  too  heavy  for  them  to  bear.  Ben  Burton,  the  hero,  had 
a  hard  road  to  travel,  but  by  grit  and  energy  he  advanced  step  by 
step  until  he  found  himself  called  upon  to  fill  the  position  of 
chief  engineer  of  the  KohinoorCoal  Company. 

A   Runaway  Brig  ;  or,  An  Accidental  Cruise.     By  JAMES  OTIS. 

12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

"  A  Runaway  Brig  "  is  a  sea  tale,  pure  and  simple,  and  that's 
where  it  strikes  a  boy's  fancy.  The  reader  can  look  out  upon 
the  wide  shimmering  sea  as  it  flashes  back  the  sunlight,  and 
imagine  himself  afloat  with  Harry  Vandyne,  Walter  Morse,  Jim 
Libby  and  that  old  shell-back,  Bob  Brace,  on  the  brig  Bonita, 
which  lands  on  one  of  the  Bahama  keys.  Finally  three  strangers 
steal  the  craft,  leaving  the  rightful  owners  to  shift  for  themselves 
aboard  a  broken-down  tug.  The  boys  discover  a  mysterious 
document  which  enables  them  to  find  a  buried  treasure,  then  a 
storm  comes  on  and  tlie  tug  is  stranded.  At  last  a  yacht  comes  in 
sight  and  the  party  with  the  treasure  is  taken  off  the  lonely  key. 
The  most  exacting  youth  is  sure  to  be  fascinated  with  this  enter- 
taining story. 

Fairy  Tales  and   Stories.    By  HANS  CHRISTIAN  ANDERSEN. 

Profusely  Illustrated,  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

"If  I  were  asked  to  select  a  child's  library  I  should  name  these  three  volumes 
'English,'  '  Celtic,1  and  'Indian  Fairy  Tales,'  with  Griuim  and  Hans  Ander- 
sen's Fairy  Tales."— Independent. 


16  A.  L.  BURT'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

The  Island  Treasure  ;  or,  Harry  Barrel's  Fortune.     By  FRANK 

H.  CONVERSE.     12tno,  clotb,  price  $1.00. 

Harry  Barrel,  an  orphan,  having  received  a  nautical  training  on 
a  school-ship,  is  bent  on  going  to  sea  with  a  boyish  acquaintance 
named  Ban  Plunket.  A  runaway  horse  changes  his  prospects. 
Harry  saves  Br.  Gregg  from  drowning  and  the  doctor  presents  his 
preserver  with  a  bit  of  property  known  as  Gregg's  Island,  and 
makes  the  lad  sailing-master  of  his  sloop  yacht.  A  piratical  hoard 
is  supposed  to  be  hidden  somewhere  on  the  island.  After  much 
search  and  many  thwarted  plans,  at  last  Ban  discovers  the 
treasure  and  is  the  means  of  finding  Harry's  father.  Mr.  Con- 
verse's stories  possess  a  charm  of  their  own  which  is  appreciated 
by  lads  who  delight  in  good  healthy  tales  that  smack  of  salt 
water. 

The  Boy  Explorers :  The  Adventures  of  Two  Boys  in  Alaska. 

By  HARRY  PRENTICE.     12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

Two  boys,  Raymond  and  Spencer  Manning,  travel  from  San 
Francisco  to  Alaska  to  join  their  father  in  search  of  their  uncle, 
who,  it  is  believed,  was  captured  and  detained  by  the  inhabitants 
of  a  place  called  the  "  Heart  of  Alaska."  On  their  arrival  at 
Sitka  the  boys  with  an  Indian  guide  set  off  across  the  mountains. 
The  trip  is  fraught  with  perils  that  test  the  lads'  courage  to  the 
utmost.  Reaching  the  Yukon  River  they  build  a  raft  and  float 
down  the  stream,  entering  the  Mysterious  River>  from  which  they 
barely  escape  with  their  lives,  only  to  be  captured  by  natives  of 
the  Heart  of  Alaska.  All  through  their  exciting  adventures  the 
lads  demonstrate  what  can  be  accomplished  by  pluck  and  resolu- 
tion, and  their  experience  makes  one  of  the  most  interesting  tales 
ever  written. 

The  Treasure  Finders  :  A  Boy's  Adventures  in  Nicaragua.     By 

JAMES  OTIS.     12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

Roy  and  Bean  Coloney,  with  their  guide  Tongla,  leave  their 
father's  indigo  plantation  to  visit  the  wonderful  iuins  of  an  ancient 
city.  The  boys  eagerly  explore  the  dismantled  temples  of  an  ex- 
tinct race  and  discover  three  golden  images  cunningly  hidden 
away.  They  escape  with  the  greatest  difficulty;  by  taking  advan- 
tage of  a  festive  gathering  they  seize  a  canoe  and  fly  down  the 
river.  Eventually  they  reach  safety  with  their  golden  prizes. 
Mr.  Otis  is  the  prince  of  story  tellers,  for  he  handles  his  material 
with  consummate  skill.  We  doubt  if  he  has  ever  written  a  more 
entertaining  story  than  "  The  Treasure  Finders." 

Household  Fairy  Tales.     By  the  BROTHERS  GRIMM.     Profusely 
Illustrated,  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

"  As  a  collection  of  fairy  teles  to  delight  children  of  all  ages  this  work 
ranks  s<***>t><?  *r  *wne."— Daily  Graphic. 


A.  L.  BURT'S  PUBLICATIONS.  17 

Dan  the  Newsboy.     By  HORATIO  ALGER,  JR.     12mo,  clotli, 

price  $1.00. 

The  reader  is  introduced  to  Dan  Mordaunt  and  bis  mother  living 
in  a  poor  tenement,  and  the  lad  is  pluckily  trying  to  make  ends 
meet  by  selling  papers  in  the  streets  of  New  York.  A  little 
heiress  of  six  years  is  confided  to  the  care  of  the  Mordaunts.  At 
the  same  time  the  lad  obtains  a  position  in  a  wholesale-  house. 
He  soon  demonstrates  how  valuable  he  is  to  the  firm  by  detecting 
the  bookkeeper  in  a  bold  attempt  to  rob  his  employers.  The 
child  is  kidnaped  and  Dan  tracks  the  child  to  the  house  where 
she  is  hidden,  and  rescues  her.  The  wealthy  aunt  of  the  little 
heiress  is  so  delighted  with  Dan's  courage  and  many  good  qualities 
that  she  adopts  him  as  her  heir,  and  the  conclusion  of  the  book 
leaves  the  hero  on  the  high  road  to  every  earthly  desire. 

Tony  the  Hero  :  A  Brave  Boy's  Adventure  with  a  Tramp.  By 
HORATIO  ALGER,  JR.  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 
Tony,  a  sturdy  bright-eyed  boy  of  fourteen,  is  under  the  control 
of  Rudolph  Rugg,  a  thorough  rascal,  shiftless  and  lazy,  spending 
his  time  tramping  about  the  country.  After  much  abuse  Tony 
runs  away  and  gets  a  job  as  stable  boy  in  a  country  hotel.  Tony  is 
heir  to  a  large  estate  in  England,  and  certain  persons  find  it  nec- 
essary to  produce  proof  of  the  lad's  death.  Rudolph  for  a  con- 
sideration hunts  up  Tony  and  throws  him  down  a  deep  well.  Of 
course  Tony  escapes  from  the  fate  provided  for  him,  and  by  a 
brave  act  makes  a  rich  friend,  with  whom  he  goes  to  England, 
where  he  secures  his  rights  and  is  prosperous.  The  fact  that  Mr. 
Alger  is  the  author  of  this  entertaining  book  will  at  once  recom- 
mend it  to  all  juvenile  readers. 

A  Young  Hero;  or,  Fighting  to  Win.     BY  EDWARD  S.  ELLIS. 

12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

This  story  tells  how  a  valuable  solid  silver  service  was  stolen 
from  the  Misses  Perkinpine,  two  very  old  and  simple  minded 
ladies.  Fred  Sheldon,  the  hero  of  this  story  and  a  friend  of  the 
old  ladies,  undertakes  to  discover  the  thieves  and  have  them  ar- 
rested. After  much  time  spent  in  detective  work,  he  succeeds  in 
discovering  the  silver  plate  and  winning  the  reward  for  its  re- 
storation. During  the  narrative  a  circus  comes  to  town  and  a 
thrilling  account  of  the  escape  of  the  lion  from  its  cage,  with  its 
recapture,  is  told  in  Mr.  Ellis'  most  fascinating  style.  Every 
boy  will  be  glad  to  read  this  delightful  book. 
The  Days  of  Bruce :  A  Story  from  Scottish  History.  By  GRACE 

AGUILAR.     Illustrated,  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

"There  is  a  delightful  freshness,  sincerity  and  vivacity  about  all  of  Grace 
A.guilar'8  stories  which  cannot  fail  to  win  the  interest  and  admiration  or 
every  lover  of  good  reading. "  -  Boston  Beacon. 


18  A.  L.  BURT'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

Tom  the  Bootblack ;  or,  The  Road  to  Success.      By  HORATIO 

ALGER,  JR.     12ino,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

A  bright,  enterprising  lad  was  Tom  the  bootblack.  He  was 
not  at  all  ashamed  of  his  humble  calling,  though  always  ou  the 
lookout  to  better  himself.  His  guardian,  old  Jacob  Morton,  died, 
leaving  him  a  small  sum  of  money  and  a  written  confession  that 
Tom,  instead  of  being  of  humble  origin,  was  the  son  and  heir  of 
a  deceased  Western  merchant,  and  had  been  defrauded  out  of  his 
just  rights  by  an  unscrupulous  uncle.  The  lad  started  for  Cin- 
cinnati to  look  up  his  heritage.  But  three  years  passed  away 
before  he  obtained  his  first  clue.  Mr.  Grey,  the  uncle,  did  not 
hesitate  to  employ  a  ruffian  to  kill  the  lad.  The  plan  failed,  and 
Gilbert  Grey,  once  Tom  the  bootblack,  came  into  a  comfortable 
fortune.  This  is  one  of  Mr.  Alger's  best  stories. 

Captured  by  Zulus  :  A  story  of  Trapping  in  Africa.     By  HARRY 

PRENTICE.     12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.CO. 

This  story  details  the  adventures  of  two  lads,  Dick  Elsworth 
and  Bob  Harvey,  in  the  wilds  of  South  Africa,  for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining,  a  supply  of  zoological  curiosities.  By  stratagem  the 
Zulus  capture  Dick  and  Bob  and  take  them  to  their  principal 
kraal  or  village.  The  lads  escape  death  by  digging  their  way 
out  of  the  prison  hut  by  night.  They  are  pursued,  and  after  a 
rough  experience  the  boys  eventually  rejoin  the  expedition  and 
take  part  in  several  wild  animal  hunts.  The  Zulus  finally  give 
up  pursuit  and  the  expedition  arrives  at  the  coast  without  further 
trouble.  Mr.  Prentice  has  a  delightful  method  of  blending  fact 
with  fiction.  He  tells  exactly  how  wild-beast  collectors  secure 
specimens  on  their  native  stamping  grounds,  and  these  descrip- 
tions make  very  entertaining  reading. 

Tom  the   Ready ;  or,  Up  from  the  Lowest.      By  RANDOLPH 

HILL.     12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

This  is  a  dramatic  narrative  of  the  unaided  rise  of  a  fearless, 
ambitious  boy  from  the  lowest  round  of  fo: tune's  ladder — the 
gate  of  the  poorhouse — to  wealth  and  the  governorship  of  his 
native  State.  Thomas  Seacomb  begins  life  with  a  purpose.  While 
yet  a  schoolboy  he  conceives  and  presents  to  the  world  the  germ 
S)f  the  Overland  Express  Co.  At  the  very  outset  of  his  career 
jealousy  and  craft  seek  to  blast  his  promising  future.  Later  he 
sets  out  to  obtain  a  charter  for  a  railroad  line  in  connection  with 
the  express  business.  Now  he  realizes  what  it  is  to  match  him- 
self against  capital.  Yet  he  wins  and  the  railroad  is  built.  Only 
an  uncommon  nature  like  Tom's  could  successfully  oppose  such  a 
combine.  How  he  manages  to  win  the  battle  is  told  by  Mr.  Hill 
in  a  masterful  way  that  thrills  the  reader  and  holds  his  attention 
and  sympathy  to  the  end. 


A.  L.  HURT'S  PUBLICATIONS.  16 

Roy  Gilbert's  Search :  A  Tale  of  the  Great  Lakes.     By  WM.  P. 

CHIPMAN.     12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

A  deep  mystery  bangs  over  the  parentage  of  Roy  Gilbert. 
He  arranges  with  two  schoolmates  to  make  a  tour  of  the 
Great  Lakes  on  a  steam  launch.  The  three  boys  leave  Erie  on 
the  launch  and  visit  many  points  of  interest  on  the  lakes.  Soon 
afterward  the  lad  is  conspicuous  in  the  rescue  of  an  elderly  gentle- 
man and  a  lady  from  a  sinking  yacht.  Later  on  the  cruise  of  the 
launch  is  brought,  to  a  disastrous  termination  and  the  boys  nar- 
rowly escape  with  their  lives.  The  hero  is  a  manly,  self-reliant 
boy,  whose  adventures  will  be  followed  with  interest. 

The  Young  Scout;   The  Story  of  a  West  Point  Lieutenant.     By 
EDWARD  S.  ELLIS.     12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

The  crafty  Apache  chief  Geronimo  but  a  few  years  ago  was  the 
most  terrible  scourge  of  the  southwest  border.  The  author  has 
woven, in  a  tale  of  thrilling  interest,  all  the  incidents  of  Geronitno's 
last  raid.  The  hero  is  Lieutenant  James  Decker,  a  recent  graduate 
of  West  Point.  Ambitious  to  distinguish  himself  so  as  to  win 
well-deserved  promotion,  the  young  man  takes  many  a  desperate 
chance  against  the  enemy  and  on  more  than  one  occasion  nar- 
rowly escapes  with  his  life.  The  story  naturally  abounds  in 
thrilling  situations,  and  being  historically  correct,  it  is  reasonable 
to  believe  it  will  find  great  favor  with  the  boys.  In  our  opinion 
Mr.  Ellis  is  the  best  writer  of  Indian  stories  now  before  the 
public. 

Adrift  in  the  Wilds  :     The  Adventures  of  Two  Shipwrecked 
Boys.     BY  EDWARD  S.  ELLIS.     12mo,  cloth,  price,  $1.00. 

Ehvood  Brandon  and  Howard  Lawrence,  cousins  and  school- 
mates, accompanied  by  a  lively  Irishman  called  O'Rooney,  are  en 
route  for  San  Francisco.  Off  the  coast  of  California  the  steamer 
takes  fire.  The  two  boys  and  their  companion  reach  the  shore 
with  several  of  the  passengers.  While  O'Rooney  and  the  lads 
are  absent  inspecting  the  neighborhood  O'Rooney  has  an  excit- 
ing experience  and  young  Brandon  becomes  separated  from  his 
party.  He  is  captured  by  hostile  Indians,  but  is  rescued  by  an 
Indian  whom  the  lads  had  assisted.  This  is  a  very  entertaining 
narrative  of  Southern  California  in  the  days  immediately  preced- 
ing the  construction  of  the  Pacific  railroads.  Mr.  Ellis  seems  to 
be  particularly  happy  in  this  line  of  fiction,  and  the  present  story 
is  fully  as  entertaining  as  anything  he  has  ever  written. 

The  Red  Fairy  Book.     Edited  by  ANDREW  LANG.     Profusely 

Illustrated,  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

"  A  gift-book  that  will  charm  any  child,  and  all  older  folk  who  have  been 
fortunate  enough  to  retain  their  taste  for  the  old  nursery  stories."—  Literary 
World, 


20  A.  L.  BURT'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

The  Boy  Cruisers ;  or,  Paddling  in  Florida.      BY  ST.  GEORGE 

RATHBORNE.     12mo,  cloth,  price,  $1.00. 

Boys  who  like  an  admixture  of  sport  and  adventure  will  find 
this  book  j  ust  to  their  taste.  We  promise  them  that  they  will 
not  go  to  sleep  over  the  rattling  experiences  of  Andrew  George 
and  Roland  Carter,  who  start  on  a  canoe  trip  along  the  Gulf 
coast,  from  Key  West  to  Tampa,  Florida.  Their  first  adventure 
is  with  a  pair  of  rascals  who  steal  their  boats.  Next  they  run 
into  a  gale  in  the  Gulf  and  have  a  lively  experience  while  it  lasts. 
After  that  they  have  a  lively  time  with  alligators  and  divers 
varieties  of  the  finny  tribe.  Andrew  gets  into  trouble  with  a 
band  of  Seminole  Indians  and  gets  away  without  having  his 
scalp  raised.  After  this  there  is  no  lack  of  fun  till  they 
reach  their  destination.  That  Mr.  Rathborne  knows  just  how  to 
interest  the  boys  is  apparent  at  a  glance,  and  lads  who  are  in. 
search  of  a  rare  treat  will  do  well  to  read  this  entertaining  story. 

Guy  Harris:    The  Runaway.     BY  HARRY  CASTLEMON.     12ino, 

cloth,  price  $1.00. 

Guy  Harris  lived  in  a  small  city  on  the  shore  of  one  of  the 
Great  Lakes.  His  head  became  filled  with  quixotic  notions  of 
going  West  to  hunt  grizzlies,  in  fact,  Indians.  He  is  per- 
suaded to  go  to  sea,  and  gets  a  glimpse  of  the  rough  side  of  life 
in  a  sailor's  i  oarding  house.  He  ships  on  a  vessel  and  for  five 
months  leads  a  hard  life.  He  deserts  his  ship  at  San  Francisco 
and  starts  out  to  become  a  backwoodsman,  but  rough  experiences 
soon  cure  him  of  all  desire  to  be  a  hunter.  At  St.  Louis  he  be- 
comes a  clerk  and  for  a  time  he  yields  to  the  temptations  of  a 
great  city.  The  book  will  not  only  interest  boys  generally  on 
account  of  its  graphic  style,  but  will  put  many  facts  before  their 
eyes  in  a  new  light.  This  is  one  of  Castlemou's  most  attractive 
stories. 

The  Train  Boy.     BY  HORATIO  ALGER,  JR.     12mo,  cloth,  price 

$1.00. 

Paul  Palmer  was  a  wide-awake  boy  of  sixteen  who  supported 
his  mother  and  sister  by  selling  books  and  papers  on  one  of  the 
trains  running  between  Chicago  and  Milwaukee.  He  detects  a 
young  man  named  Luke  Denton  in  the  act  of  picking  the  pocket 
of  a  young  lady,  and  also  incurs  the  enmity  of  his  brother  Ste- 
phen, a  worthless  follow.  Luke  and  Stephen  plot  to  ruin  Paul, 
but  their  plans  are  frustrated.  In  a  railway  accident  many  pas- 
sengers are  killed,  but  Paul  is  fortunate  enough  to  assist  a  Chicago 
merchant,  who  out  of  gratitude  takes  him  into  his  employ.  Paul 
is  sent  to  manage  a  mine  in  Custer  City  and  executes  his  coin- 
mission  with  tact  and  judgment  and  is  well  started  on  the  road 
to  business  prominence.  This  is  one  of  Mr.  Alger's  most  attrac- 
tive stories  and  is  sure  to  please  all  readers. 


A.  L.  BURT'S  PUBLICATIONS.  21 

Joe's  Luck  :  A  Boy's  Adventures  in  California.  BY  HORATIO 
ALGER,  JR.  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

Without  a  doubt  Joe  Mason  was  a  lucky  boy,  but  he  deserved 
the  golden  chances  that  fell  to  his  lot,  for  he  had  the  pluck  and 
ambition  to  push  himself  to  the  front.  Joe  had  but  one  dollar  in 
the  world  when  he  stood  despondently  on  the  California  Mail 
Steamship  Co.'s  dock  in  New  York  watching  the  preparations  in- 
cident to  the  departure  of  the  steamer.  The  same  dollar  was 
still  Joe's  entire  capital  when  he  landed  in  the  bustling  town  of 
tents  and  one-story  cabins — the  San  Francisco  of  '51,  and  inside 
of  the  week  the  boy  was  proprietor  of  a  small  restaurant  earning  a 
comfortable  profit.  The  story  is  chock  full  of  stirring  incidents, 
while  the  amusing  situations  are  furnished  by  Joshua  Bickford, 
from  Pumpkin  Hollow,  and  the  fellow  who  modestly  styles  him- 
self the  "  Rip-tail  Roarer,  from  Pike  Co.,  Missouri."  Mr.  Alger 
never  writes  a  poor  book,  and  "Joe's  Luck"  is  certainly  one  of 
his  best. 

Three  Bright  Girls  :  A  Story  of  Chance  and  Mischance.     By 

ANNIE    E.  ARMSTRONG.      With  full  page  Illustrations  by  W. 

PARKINSON.     12rno,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

By  a  sudden  turn  of  fortune's  wheel  the  three  heroines  of  this 
story  are  brought  down  from  a  household  of  lavish  comfort  to 
meet  the  incessant  cares  and  worries  of  those  who  have  to  eke  out 
a  very  limited  income.  And  the  charm  of  the  story  lies  in  the 
cheery  helpfulness  of  spirit  developed  in  the  girls  by  theirchanged 
circumstances;  while  the  author  finds  a  pleasant  ending  to  all 
their  happy  makeshifts. 

"  The  story  is  charmingly  told,  and  the  book  can  be  warmly  recommended 
as  a  present  for  girls." — Standard. 

Giannetta:  A  Girl's  Story  of  Herself.  By  ROSA  MULHOLLAND. 
With  full-page  Illustrations  by  LOCKHART  BOGLE.  12uio, 
cloth,  price  $1.00. 

The  daughter  of  a  gentleman,  who  had  married  a  poor  Swiss 
girl,  was  stolen  as  an  infant  by  some  of  her  mother's  relatives. 
The  child  having  died,  they  afterward  for  the  sake  of  gain  sub- 
stitute another  child  for  it,  and  the  changeling,  after  becoming 
a  clever  modeler  of  clay  images,  is  suddenly  transferred  to  tha 
position  of  a  rich  heiress.  She  develops  into  a  good  and  accom- 
plished woman,  and  though  the  imposture  of  her  early  friends  i3 
finally  discovered,  she  has  gained  too  much  love  and  devotion  to 
be  really  a  sufferer  by  the  surrender  of  her  estates. 

"  Extremely  well  told  and  full  of  interest.  Giannetta  is  a  true  heroine— 
warm-nearted,  self-sacrificing:,  and,  as  all  good  women  nowadays  are.  largely 
•Couched  with  enthusiasm  of  humanity.  The  illustrations  are  unusually  good. 
")r-e  of  the  most  attractive  gift  books  of  the  season."— The  Academy. 


22  A.  L.  BURT'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

Margery  Merton's  Girlhood.  By  ALICE  CORKRAN.  With  f ulk 
page  Illustrations  by  GORDON  BROWNE.  12ino,  cloth,  price 
$1.00. 

The  experiences  of  an  orphan  girl  who  in  infancy  is  left  by  her 
father — an  officer  in  India — to  the  care  of  an  elderly  aunt  residing 
near  Paris.  The  accounts  of  the  various  persons  who  have  an 
after  influence  on  the  story,  the  school  companions  of  Margery, 
the  sisters  of  the  Conventual  College  of  Art,  the  professor,  and 
the  peasantry  of  Fontainebleau,  are  singularly  vivid.  There  is  a 
subtle  attraction  about  the  book  which  will  make  it  a  great  favorite 
with  thoughtful  girls. 

"  Another  book  for  girls  we  can  warmly  commend.  There  is  a  delightful 
piquancy  in  the  experiences  and  trials  of  a  youug  English  girl  who  studies 
painting  in  Paris."— Saturday  Review. 

Under  False  Colors :  A  Story  from  Two  Girls'  Lives.  By 
SARAH  DOUDNEY.  With  full-page  Illustrations  by  G.  G.  KIL- 
BURNE.  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

A  story  which  has  in  it  so  strong  a  dramatic  element  that  it 
will  attract  readers  of  all  ages  and  of  either  sex.  The  incidents 
cf  the  plot,  arising  from  the  thoughtless  indulgence  of  a  decep- 
tive freak,  are  exceedingly  natural,  and  the  keen  interest  of  the 
narrative  is  sustained  from  beginning  to  end. 

"Sarah  Doudney  has  no  superior  as  a  writer  of  high-toned  stories— pure 
in  style,  original  in  conception,  and  with  skillfully  wrought  out  plots;  but 
we  have  seen  nothing  equal  in  dramatic  energy  to  this  book."— Christian 
Leader. 

Down  the  Snow  Stairs ;  or,  From  Good-night  to  Good-morning. 

By  ALICE  CORKRAN.    With  Illustrations  by  GORDON  BROWNE. 

12mo,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

This  is  a  remarkable  story:  full  of  vivid  fancy  and  quaint 
originality.  In  its  most  fantastic  imaginings  it  carries  with  it  a 
sense  of  reality,  and  derives  a  singular  attraction  from  that  com- 
bination of  simplicity,  originality,  and  subtle  humor,  which  is  so 
much  appreciated  by  lively  and  thoughtful  children.  Children 
of  a  larger  growth  will  also  be  deeply  interested  in  Kitty's  strange 
journey,  and  her  wonderful  experiences. 

"  Among  all  the  Christmas  volumes  which  the  year  has  brought  to  our 
table  this  one  stands  out  facile  princeps — a  gem  of  the  first  water,  bearing 
upon  every  one  of  its  pages  the  signet  mark  of  genius.  .  .  .  All  is  told 
with  such  simplicity  and  perfect  naturalness  that  the  dream  appears  to  he  a 
solid  reality.  It  is  indeed  a  Little  Pilgrim's  Progress."—  Christian  Leader. 

The  Tapestry  Room:  A  Child's  Romance.  By  MRS.  MOLES- 
WORTH.  Illustrated  by  WALTER  CRANE.  12mo,  cloth,  price 
75  cents. 

"Mrs.  Moleswor  this  a  charming  painter  of  the  nature  and  ways  of  children; 
and  she  has  done  good  service  in  giving  us  this  charming  juvenile  which  will 
delight  the  young  people."— Athenceum,  London. 


A.  L.  BURT'S  PUBLICATIONS.  23 

Little  Miss  Peggy  :  Only  a  Nursery  Story.  By  MRS.  MOLES- 
WOKTH.  With  Illustrations  by  WALTER  CKANE.  12ino,  cloth, 
price  75  cents. 

Mrs.  Molesworth's  children  are  finished  studies.  She  is  never 
sentimental,  but  writes  common  sense  in  a  straightforward  man- 
ner. A  joyous  earnest  spirit  pervades  her  work,  and  her  sym- 
pathy is  unbounded.  She  loves  them  with  her  whole  heart, 
while  she  lays  bare  their  little  minds,  and  expresses  their  foibles, 
their  faults,  their  virtues,  their  inward  struggles,  their  concep- 
tion of  duty,  and  their  instinctive  knowledge  of  the  right  and 
wrong  of  things.  She  knows  their  characters,  she  understands 
their  wants,  and  she  desires  to  help  them. 

Polly :  A  New  Fashioned  Girl.     By  L.  T.  MEADE.     Illustrated 

ISino,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

Few  authors  have  achieved  a  popularity  equal  to  Mrs.  Meade 
as  a  writer  of  stories  for  young  girls.  Her  characters  are  living 
beings  of  flesh  and  blood,  not  lay  figures  of  conventional  type. 
Into  the  trials  and  crosses,  and  everyday  experiences,  the  reader 
enters  at  once  with  zest  and  hearty  sympathy.  While  Mrs. 
Meade  always  writes  with  a  high  moral  purpose,  her  lessons  of 
life,  purity  and  nobility  of  character  are  rather  inculcated  by 
example  than  intruded  as  sermons. 

Rosy.    By  MRS.  MOLESWORTH.     Illustrated  by  WALTER  CRANE. 

12mo,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Mrs.  Molesworth,  considering  the  quality  and  quantity  of  her 
labors,  is  the  best  story-teller  for  children  England  has  yet 
known.  This  is  a  bold  statement  and  requires  substantiation. 
Mrs.  Molesworth,  during  the  last  six  years,  has  never  failed  to 
occupy  a  prominent  place  among  the  juvenile  writers  of  the 
season. 

"  A  very  pretty  story.  .  .  .  The  writer  knows  children  and  their  ways 
well.  .  .  .  The  illustrations  are  exceedingly  well  drawn."— Spectator. 

Little    Sunshine's    Holiday:  A   Picture   from    Life.     By    Miss 

MULOCK.     Illustrated  by  WALTER  CRANE.     12mo,  cloth,  price 

75  cents. 

"  This  is  a  pretty  narrative  of  baby  life,  describing  the  simple  doings  and 
savings  of  a  very  charming  and  rather  precocious  child  nearly  three  years 
old."— Pall  Mail  Gazette. 

"  Will  be  delightful  to  those  who  have  nurseries  peopled  by  '  Little  Sun- 
shines' of  their  own." — AtliencBum. 

Esther  :  A  Book  for  (Jirls.     By  ROSA  N.  CAREY.     Illustrated, 

12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

"  She  inspires  her  readers  simply  by  bringing  them  in  contact  with  the 
characters,  who  are  in  themselves  inspiring.  Her  simple  stories  are  woven 
in  order  to  give  her  an  opportunity  to  describe  her  characters  by  their  own 
conduct  in  seasons  of  trial  "—Chicago  Times. 


24  A.  L.  BTJRT'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

Sweet  Content.  By  MRS.  MOLESWORTH.  Illustrated  by  W. 
RAINEY.  12mo,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

"  It  seems  to  me  not  at  all  easier  to  draw  a  lifelike  child  than  to  draw  a 
lifelike  man  or  woman:  Shakespeare  and  Webster  were  the  only  two  men  of 
their  age  who  could  do  it  with  perfect  delicacy  and  success.  Our  own  age  id 
more  fortunate,  on  this  single  score  at  least,  having  a  larger  and  far  nobler 
proportion  of  female  writers;  among  whom,  since  the  death  of  George  Eliot, 
there  is  none  left  whose  touch  is  so  exquisite  and  masterly,  whose  love  is  so 
thoroughly  according  to  knowledge,  whose  bright  and  sweet  invention  is  so 
fruitful,  so  truthful,  or  so  delightf  ul  as  Mrs.  Molesworth."— A.  C.  SWINBURNE. 

One  of  a  Covey.  By  the  Author  of  "Honor  Bright,"  "Miss 
Toosey's  Mission."  With  Numerous  Illustrations  by  H.  J.  A. 
MILES.  12mo,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

"  Full  of  spirit  and  life,  so  well  sustained  throughout  that  grown-up  readers 
may  enjoy  it  as  much  as  children.  This  '  Covey  '  consists  of  the  twelve 
children  of  a  hard-pressed  Dr.  Partridge,  out  of  which  is  chosen  a  little  girl 
to  be  adopted  by  a  spoilt,  fine  lady.  ...  It  is  one  of  the  best  books  of  the 
season. " — Guardian. 

"  We  have  rarely  read  a  story  for  boys  and  girls  with  greater  pleasure. 
One  of  the  chief  characters  would  not  have  disgraced  Dickens'  pen." — 
Literary  World. 

The  Little  Princess  of  Tower  Hill.  By  L.  T.  MEADE.  Illus- 
trated, 12mo,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

"  This  is  one  of  the  prettiest  books  for  children  published,  as  pretty  as  a 
pond-lily,  and  quite  as  fragrant.  Nothing  could  be  imagined  more  attractive 
to  young  people  than  such  a  combination  of  fresh  pages  and  fair  pictures; 
and  while  children  will  rejoice  over  it — which  is  much  better  than  crying  for 
it— it  is  a  book  that  can  be  read  with  pleasure  even  by  older  boys  and  girls. " 
— Boston  Advertiser. 

Honor  Bright ;  or,  The  Four- Leaved  Shamrock.  By  the  Author 
of  "  One  of  a  Covey,"  "  Miss  Toosey's  Mission,"  etc.,  etc. 
With  full-page  Illustrations.  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

"  It  requires  a  special  talent  to  describe  the  sayings  and  doings  of  children, 
and  the  author  of  'Honor  Bright,'  'One  of  a  Covey.' possesses  that  talent 
in  no  small  degree." — Literary  Churchman. 

"A  cheery,  sensible,  and  healthy  tale."-— IVw  Times. 

The  Cuckoo  Clock.    By  MRS.   MOLESWORTH.     With   Illustra- 
tions by  WALTER  CRANE.     12mo,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

"A  beautiful  little  story.  It  will  be  read  with  delight  by  every  child  into 
whose  hands  it  is  placed.  .  .  .  The  author  deserves  all  the  praise  that  has 
been,  is,  and  will  be  bestowed  on  '  The  Cuckoo  Clock.'  Children's  stories  ire 
plentiful,  but  one  like  this  is  not  to  be  met  with  every  day."— Pall  Mall 
Gazette. 

Girl  Neighbors ;  or,  The  Old  Fashion  and  the  New.  By  SARAH 
TYTLER.  With  full-page  Illustrations  by  C.  T.  GARLAND. 
12mo,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

"  One  of  the  most  effective  and  quietly  humorous  of  Miss  Tytler's  stories. 
'Girl  Neighbors  '  is  a  pleasant  comedy,  not  so  much  of  errors  as  of  preju- 
dices got  rid  of,  very  healthy,  very  agreeable,  and  very  well  written."— 
Spectator. 


A.  L.  BURT'S  PUBLICATIONS.  35 

The  Little  Lame  Prince.  By  Miss  MULOCK.  Illustrated, 
cloth,  price  75  cents. 

"  No  sweeter— that  is  the  proper  word— Christmas  story  for  the  little  folks 
could  easily  be  found,  and  it  is  as  delightful  for  older  readers  as  well  There 
is  a  moral  to  it  which  the  reader  can  find  out  for  himself,  if  he  chooses  to 
think."— Herald,  Cleveland. 

The  Adventures  "of  a  Brownie.  As  Told  to  my  Child.  By 
Miss  MULOCK.  Illustrated,  12nio,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

"  The  author  of  this  delightful  little  book  leaves  it  in  doubt  all  through 
whether  there  actually  is  such  a  creature  in  existence  as  a  Brownie,  but  she 
makes  us  hope  that  there  might  be."— Standard,  Chicago. 

Only  a  Girl  :  A  Story  of  a  Quiet  Life.  A  Tale  of  Brittany. 
Adapted  from  the  the  French  by  C.  A.  JONES.  Illustrated, 
12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

"  We  can  thoroughly  recommend  this  brightly  written  and  homely  narra- 
rative."— Saturday  Review. 

Little  Rosebud  ;  or,  Things  Will  Take  a  Turn.  By  BEATRICE 
HARRADEN.  Illustrated,  12uio,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

"  A  most  delightful  little  book.  .  .  .  Miss  Harraden  is  so  bright,  so 
healthy,  and  so  natural  withal  that  the  book  ought,  as  a  matter  of  duty,  to 
be  added  to  every  girl's  library  in  the  land."— Boston  Transcript. 

Little  Miss  Joy.  By  EMMA  MARSHALL.  Illustrated,  12mo, 
cloth,  price  75  cents. 

"  A  very  pleasant  and  instructive  story,  told  by  a  very  charming  writer  in 
such  an  attractive  way  as  to  win  favor  among  its  young  readers.  The  illus- 
trations add  to  the  beauty  of  the  book." — Utica  Herald. 

Little  Lucy's  Wonderful  Globe.  By  CHARLOTTE  M.  YONGE. 
Illustrated,  12nio,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

"  This  story  is  unique  among  tales  intended  for  children,  alike  for  pleasant 
instruction,  quaintness  of  humor,  gentle  pathos,  and  the  subtlety  with  which 
lessons  moral  and  otherwise  are  conveyed  to  children,  and  perhaps  to  their 
seniors  as  well."— The  Spectator. 

Joan's  Adventures  at  the  North  Pole  and  Elsewhere.  By 
ALICE  CORKRAN.  Illustrated,  12mo,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

"  Wonderful  as  the  adventures  of  Joan  are,  it  must  be  admitted  that  they 
are  v«ry  naturally  worked  out  and  very  plausibly  presented.  Altogether 
this  is  an  excellent  story  for  girls."— Saturday  Review. 

Count  Up  the  Sunny  Days :  A  Story  for  Boys  and  Girls.     By 

C.  A.  JONES.     With  full-page  Illustrations,  12iuo,  cloth,  price 

75  cents. 

"  An  unusually  good  children's  story."— Glasgow  Herald. 
Sue  and  I.     By  MRS.  O'REILLY.     Illustrated,  12rno,  cloth,  price 

75  cents. 

"  A  thoroughly  delightful  book,  full  of  sound  wisdom  as  well  as  fun."  — 
Athencvum. 


26  A.  L.  BURT'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

Alice's  Adventures  in  Wonderland.  By  LEWIS  CARROLL. 
With  42  Illustrations  by  JOHN  TENNIEL.  12mo,  cloth,  price 
75  cents. 

"  From  first  to  last,  almost  without  exception,  this  story  is  delightfully 
droll,  humorous  and  illustrated  in  harmony  with  the  story."— New  York 
Express. 

Celtic  Fairy  Tales.  Edited  by  JOSEPH  JACOBS.  Illustrated  by 
J.  D.  BATTEN.  12mo,  cloth,  preic  $1.00. 

"  A  stock  of  delightful  little  narratives  gathered  chiefly  from  the  Celtic- 
speaking  peasants  of  Ireland."— Daily  Telegraph, 

"A  perfectly  lovely  book.  And  oh!  the  wonderful  pictures  inside.  Get 
this  book  if  you  can;  it  is  capital,  all  through."— Pall  Mall  Budget. 

English  Fairy  Tales.  Edited  by  JOSEPH  JACOBS.  Illustrated 
by  J.  D.  BATTEN.  12mo,  clotb,  price  $1.00. 

"The tales  are  simply  delightful.  No  amount  of  description  can  do  them 
justice.  The  only  way  is  to  read  the  book  through  from  cover  to  cover." — 
Magazine  and  Book  Review. 

"  The  book  is  intended  to  correspond  to  '  Grimm's  Fairy  Tales,'  and  it  must 
be  allowed  that  its  pages  fairly  rival  in  interest  those  of  the  well-known  re- 
pository of  folk-lore." — Sydney  Morning  Herald. 

Indian  Fairy  Tales.  Edited  by  JOSEPH  JACOBS.  Illustrated  by 
J.  D  BATTEN.  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

"  Mr.  Jacobs  brings  home  to  us  in  a  clear  and  intelligible  manner  the  enor- 
mous influence  which  '  Indian  Fairy  Tales  '  have  had  upon  European  litera- 
ture of  the  kind." — Gloucester  Journal. 

"  The  present  combination  wilt  be  welcomed  not  alone  by  the  little  ones  for 
whom  it  is  specially  combined,  but  also  by  children  of  larger  growth  and 
added  years." — Daily  Telegraph. 

The  Blue  Fairy  Book.  Edited  by  ANDREW  LANG.  Profusely 
Illustrated,  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

"The  tales  are  simply  delightful.  >  o  amount  of  description  can  do  them 
Justice.  The  only  way  is  to  read  the  book  through  from  cover  to  cover." — 
Magazine  and  Book  Review. 

The  Green  Fairy  Book.  Edited  by  ANDREW  LANG.  Profusely 
Illustrated,  12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

"The  most  delightful  book  of  fairytales,  taking  form  and  contents  to- 
gether, ever  presented  to  children."— E.  S.  HARTLAND,  in  folk-Lore. 

The  Yellow  Fairy  Book.  Edited  by  ANDREW  LANG.  Profusely 
illustrated,  12mo.  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

"  As  a  collection  of  fairy  tales  to  delight  children  of  all  ages  ranks  second 
to  none." — Daily  Graphic  (with  illustrations). 

Through  the  Looking  Glass,  and  What  Alice  Found  There, 
By  LEWIS  CARROLL.  With  50  Illustrations  by  JOHN  TENNIEL. 
"  A  delight  alike  to  the  young  people  and  their  elders,  extremely  funny 

bctb  in  text  and  illustrations."— Boston,  Express, 


A.  L    BURT'S  PUBLICATIONS.  27 

The  Heir  of  Redclyffe.     By  CHARLOTTE  M.  YONGE.     Illustrated, 
12mo,  cloth,  price  $1.00. 

"A  narrative  full  of  interest  from  first  to  last.  It  is  told  clearly  and  in  a 
straightforward  manner  and  arrests  the  attention  of  the  reader  at  once,  so 
that  one  feels  afresh  the  unspeakable  pathos  of  the  story  to  the  end."— 
London  Graphic. 

The  Dove  in  the  Eagle's  Nest.    By  CHARLOTTE  M.  YONGE. 
Illustrated,  12mo,  clotb,  price  $1.00. 

"  Among  all  the  modern  writers  we  believe  Miss  Yonge  first,  not  in  genius, 
hut  in  this,  that  she  employs  her  great  abilities  for  a  high  and  noble  purpose. 
We  know  of  few  modern  writers  whose  works  may  be  so  safely  commended 
as  her$,"— Cleveland  Times. 

A  Sweet  Girl  Graduate.    By  L.  T.  MEADE.     Illustrated,  ISino, 

clotb,  price  $1.00. 

"  One  of  this  popular  author's  best.  The  charactersare  well  imagined  and 
drawn.  The  story  moves  with  plenty  of  spirit  and  the  interest  does  not  flag 
until  the  end  too  quickly  comes."— Providence  Journal. 

The  Palace  Beautiful :  A  Story  for  Girls.     By  L.  T.  MEADE. 
Illustrated,  clotb,  12rao,  price  $1.00. 

"  A  bright  and  interesting  story.  The  many  admirers  of  Mrs.  L.  T.  Meade 
in  this  country  will  be  delighted  with  the  '  Palace  Beautiful '  for  more  reasons 
than  one." — New  York  Recorder. 

A  World  of  Girls :  Tbe  Story  of  a  School.     By  L.  T.  MEADE. 

Illustrated,  12mo,  clotb,  price  $1.00. 

"  One  of  those  wholesome  stories  which  it  does  one  good  to  read.  It  will 
afford  pure  delight  to  her  numerous  readers."— Boston  Home  Journal. 

The  Lady  of  the  Forest :  A  Story  for  Girls.     By  L.  T.  MEADE. 

Illustrated,  12mo,  clotb,  price  $1.00. 

"  This  story  is  written  in  the  author's  well-known,  fresh  and  easy  style. 
All  girls  fond  of  reading  will  be  charmed  by  this  well-written  story.  It  is 
told  with  the  author's  customary  grace  and  spirit."— Boston  Times. 

At  the  Back  of  the  North  Wind.     By  GEORGE  MACDONALD. 
Illustrated  by  GEORGE  GROVES,  12uio,  clotb,  price  $1.00. 

"A  very  pretty  story,  with  much  of  the  freshness  and  vigor  of  Mr.  Mac- 
donald's  earlier  work.  .  .  .  It  is  a  sweet,  earnest,  and  wholesome  fairy 
story,  and  the  quaint  native  humor  is  delightful.  A  most  delightful  volume 
for  young  readers."— Philadelphia  Times. 

The  Water  Babies :  A  Fairy  Tale  for  a  Land  Baby.  By  CHARLES 
KINGSLEY.     Illustrated,  12mo,  clotb,  price  $1.00. 
"  The  strength  of  his  work,  as  well  as  its  peculiar  charms,  consist  in  hia 
description  of  the  experiences  of  a  youth  with  life  under  water  in  the  luxu- 
riant wealth  of  which  he  revels  with  all  the  ardor  of  a  poetical  nature."— 
New  York  Tribune. 


BURT'S  HOME  LIBRARY 

Comprising  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  titles  of  standard 
tvorks,  embracing  fiction,  essays,  poetry,  history,  travel,  etc., 
selected  from  the  world's  best  literature,  written  by  authorfe 
of  world- wide  reputation.  Printed  from  large  type  on  good 
paper,  and  bound  in  handsome  uniform  cloth  binding. 


Uniform  Cloth  Binding,  Gilt  Tops.          Price  $1.00  per  Copy 


Abbe    Constantin.      By    Ludovic 

Halevy. 
Abbot,     The.       By     Sir     Walter 

Scott. 

Adam   Bede.      By   George   Eliot. 
<Esop's   Fables. 
Alhambra,  The.     By  Washington 

Irving. 
Alice        in        Wonderland        and 

Through    the    Looking    Glass. 

By  Lewis  Carroll. 
Alice  Lorraine.     By  R.  D.  Black- 
more. 
All  Sorts  and  Conditions  of  Men. 

By   Besant  and   Rice. 
Amiel's   Journal.      Translated   by 

Mrs.    Humphrey   Ward. 
Andersen's  Fairy  Tales. 
Anne     of     Geierstein.        By     Sir 

Walter  Scott. 
Antiquary,    The.     By   Sir  Walter 

Scott. 

Arabian   Nights    Entertainments. 
Ardath.      By   Marie  Corelli. 
Armadale.      By    Wilkie    Collins. 
Armorel  of  Lyonesse.     By  Walter 

Besant. 
Around   the  World   in   the  Yacht 

Sunbeam.     By  Mrs.   Brassey. 
Arundel    Motto.      By   Mary    Cecil 

Hay. 
At  the  Back  of  the  North  Wind. 

By  George  Macdonald. 
Attic     Philosopher.       By     Emilfe 

Souvestre. 
Auld  Licht  Idylls.     By  James  M. 

Barrle. 

Aunt  Diana.     By  Rosa  N.  Carey. 
Aurelian.     By  William  Ware. 
Autobiography         of        Benjamin 

Franklir.. 

Averil.     By  Rosa  N.  Carey. 
Bacon's     Essays.       By     Francis 

Bacon. 


Barbara   Heathcote's   Trial.      fe»y 

Rosa  N.  Carey. 
Barnaby     Rudge.        By     CYis*les 

Dickens. 
Barrack-Room        Ballads.          By 

Rudyard  Kipling. 
Betrothed,    The.      By   Sir    Walter 

Scott. 

Black  Beauty.     By  Anna  Sewell. 
Black  Dwarf,  The.     By  Sir  Wal- 
ter Scott. 

Bleak  House.     By  Charles  Dick- 
ens. 

Bondman,   The.     By   Hall   Caine. 
Bride    of    Lammermoor.      By    Sir 

Walter  Scott. 
Bride     of     the     Nile,     The.       By 

George  Ebers. 
Browning's  Poems.      (Selections.) 

By   Robert  Browning. 
Bryant's    Poems.       (Early.)      By 

William  Cullen  Bryant. 
Burgomaster's    Wife,     The.       By 

George  Ebers. 

Burns'   Poems.  By  Robert  Burns. 
By  Order  of  the  King.     By  Vic- 
tor Hugo. 
California  and  Oregon  Trail.     By 

Francis  Parkman,  Jr. 
Cast    Up    by    the    Sea.      By    Sli 

Samuel   Baker. 
Caxtons,    The.      By   Bulwer-Lyt- 

ton. 

Chandos.      By   "Oulda." 
Charles   Auchester.      By   E.    Bei> 

ger. 

Character.     By  Samuel  Smiles. 
Charles    O'Malley.       By    Charla* 

Lever. 
Children  of  the  Abbey.     By  Re- 

gina  Maria  Roche. 
Children  of  Gibeon.     By  Walter 

Besant. 
Child's  History  of  England.     Bj 

Charles  Dickens. 


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Christmas    Stories.      By    Charles 

Dickens. 
Clara      Vaughan.        By      R.      D. 

Blackmore. 
Cloister    and     the    Hearth.       By 

Charles   Reade. 
Complete     Angler.       By    Walton 

and  Cotton. 
Confessions  of  an  Opium  Eater. 

Bj   Thomas  De  Qulncey. 
Consuelo.     By   George  Sand. 
Corinne.     By  Madame  De  Stael. 
Countt-ss     Gisela,     The.       By     E. 

Marlitt. 
Ccumess     of     Rudolstadt.        By 

George    Sand. 
Count  Robert  of  Paris.     By  Sir 

Walter  Scott. 
Cousin     Pons.       By     Honore     De 

Balzac. 
Cradock     Nowell.        By     R.      D. 

Blackmore. 

Cranford.     By  Mrs.    Gaskell. 
Cripps    the    Carrier.      By    K.    D. 

Blackmore. 
Crown   of   Wild   Olive,    The.      By 

John   Ruskin. 
Daniel      Deronoa.        By      George 

Eliot. 
Data    of     Ethics.       By    Herbert 

Spencer. 
Daughter    of    an    Empress,    The. 

By   Louisa   Muhlbach. 
Daughter      of      Heth,      A.        By 

William  Bl.ick. 
David     Coppertield.      By    Charles 

Dickens. 
Days      of      Bruce.        By      Grace 

Aguilar. 

Deemster,   The.     By  Hall  Caine. 
Deerslayer,      The.        By      James 

Fenimore   Cooper 
Descent    of    Man.      By    Charles 

Darwin. 
Dick    Sand;     or,     A    Captain    at 

Fifteen.     By  Ju'  is   Verne. 
Discourses  of   EplcT~t.us.     Trans- 
lated by  George   Long. 
Divine    Comedy,    T.'e.       (Dante.) 

Translated     bv     Rev.     H.     F. 

Carey. 
Dombey     &     Son.       By     Charles 

Dickens. 
Donal    Grant.      By    George   Mac- 

donald. 

Donovan.     By  Edna  Lyal1. 
Dove   in   the   Eagle's   Nest.      By 

Charlotte    M.     Yonge. 
Dream   Life.     By  Ik   MarveV. 
Duty.     By  Samuel  Smiles. 
Karly  Days  of  Christianitj.      By 

F.    W.    Farrar. 
East     Lynne.       By     Mrs.     Henry 

Wood. 

Education.     By  Herbert  Spencer 
Egoist,    The.      By    George    Mere- 
dith. 
Egyptian      Princess,      An.        By 

George   Ebers. 
El»ht    Hundred    Leagues   or.    the 

Amason.     By  Jule« 


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Emerson's    Essays.      (Complete.) 

By  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson. 
Emperor,  The.   By  George  Ebers. 
Essays     of     Ella.       By     Charles 

Lamb. 

Esther.     By  Rosa  N.   Carey. 
Executor,    The.      By    Mrs.    Aler» 

ander. 
Fair    Maid    of    Perth.      By    SU 

Walter  Scott. 
Fairy     Land     of     Science.       By 

Arabella   B.    Buckley. 
Far    from    the    Madding    Crowd. 

By  Thomas  Hardy. 
Faust.     (Goethe.)     Translated  by 

Anna  Swanwick. 
Felix  Holt.      By  George  Eliot. 
Fifteen    Decisive    Battles    of    the 

World.     By   E.   S.   Creasy. 
File    No.     113.       By    Emile    Ga» 

boriau. 
Firm     of     Girdlestone.       By    A. 

Conan  Doyle. 
First     Principles.       By     Herbert 

Spencer. 
First  Violin.     By  Jessie  Fother< 

gill. 
For    Faith    and    Freedom.      By 

Walter  Besant. 

Fortunes  of  Nigel.    By  Sir  Wal- 
ter Scott. 
Fragments  of  Science.     By  John 

Tyndall. 
Frederick     the     Great     and     Hie 

Court.     By  Louisa  Muhlbach. 
French     Revolution.       By     Thos. 

Cai-iyle. 
From  the  Earth  to  the  Moon.  Bj 

Jules  Verne. 
Goethe  and  Schiller.     By  Louisa 

Muhlbach. 
Gold  Bug,  The,  and  Other  Tales. 

By  Edgar  A.  Poe. 
Gold  Elsie.     By  E.   Marlitt. 
Good  Luck.     By  E.   Werner. 
Grandfather's     Chair.       By     Na- 
thaniel Hawthorne. 
Great    Expectations.      By    Ctiaa. 

Dickens. 
Great    Taboo,    The.      By    Grant 

Allen. 
Great    Treason,     A.       By    Mary 

Hoppus. 
Greek    Heroes.      Fairy   Tales   for 

My     Children.       By     Charles 

Kingsley. 
Green  Mountain   Boys,   The.     By 

D.   P.  Thompson. 
Grimm's    Household    Tales.      By 

the  Brothers  Grimm. 
Grimm's  Popular  Tales.     By  th« 

Brothers  Grimm. 
Gulliver's     Travels.       By     Dean 

Swift. 
Guy   Mannerinsr.     By  Sir  Walter 

Scott. 

Handy  Andy.     By  flamuet  Lover. 
Hardy   Norseman.    A.      By   Edna 

Lyall. 
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Harry    Lorrequer.       By     Charles 

Lever. 
Heart    of    Midlothian.       By    Sir 

Walter  Scott. 
Heir  of  Redclyffe.     By  Charlotte 

M.   Yonge. 
Henry     Esmond.       By    Wm.     M. 

Thackeray. 
Her     Dearest     Foe.        By     Mrs. 

Alexander.. 
Heriot's     Choice.       By    Rosa    N. 

.    Carey. 
Heroes    and    Hero   Worship.      By 

Thomas  Carlyle. 
History   of   a   Crime.      By   Victor 

Hugo. 

History    of    Civilization    in    Eu- 
rope.     By   Guizot. 
Holy  Roman  Empire.     By  James 

Bryce. 

Homo  Sum.      By   George   Ebers. 
House  of  the  Seven  Gables.     By 

Nathaniel  Hawthorne. 
Hunchback  of   Notre  Dame.     By 

Victor  Hugo. 

Hypatia.     By  Charles  Kingsley. 
Idle  Thoughts  of  an  Idle  Fellow. 

By  Jerome  K.    Jerome. 
Iliad,   The.     Pope's  Translation. 
Initials,    The.      By    the   Baroness 

Tautphoeus. 
In     the     Counselor's   House.      By 

E.   Marlitt. 
[n   the   Golden   Days.     By   Edna 

Lyall. 
tn    the     Schillingscourt.      By    E. 

Marlitt. 
H   Is   Never   Too   Late   to   Mend. 

By  Charles  Reade. 
tvanhoe.     By  Sir  Walter  Scott. 
Jack's   Courtship.     By   W.    Clark 

Russell. 

Jack  Hinton.     By  Charles  Lever. 
Jane        Eyre.          By        Charlotte 

Bronte. 
John    Halifax,    Gentleman.      By 

Miss  Mulock. 

Joshua.     By   George   Ebers. 
Kenilworth.  By  Sir  Walter  Scott. 
Kidnapped.     By  R.  L.  Stevenson. 
Kit  and  Kitty.     By  R.  D.  Black- 
more. 
Kith  and  Kin.     By  Jessie  Foth- 

ergill. 

Knickerbocker's   History   of  New 

York.   By  Washington  Irving. 

Knight  Errant.     By  Edna  Lyall. 

Koran,      The.        Translated      by 

George  Sale. 
Lamplighter,    The.     By  Maria  S. 

Cummins. 
lady    with    the    Rubies.     By  E. 

Marlitt. 
Last  Days  of  Pompeii.     By  Bul- 

wer-Lytton. 
Last  ol  the  Barons.     By  Bulwer- 

Lytton. 
Last  of  the  Mohicans.     By  James 

Fenlmore   Cooper. 
L«na      Rivers.        Ey      Mary      J, 
Holmes. 


Life  of  Christ.     By  Frederic  W. 

Farrar. 

Light  of  Asia,  The.     By  Sir  Ed- 
win Arnold. 

Light     That     Failed,     The.       By 
Rudyard   Kipling. 

Little  Dorrit.     By  Charles  Dick- 
ens. 

Longfellow's   Poems.      (Early.) 

Lorna  Doone.     By  R.   D.   Black- 
more. 

Louise  de  la  Valliere.     By  Alex« 
andre  Dumas. 

Love   Me  Little,    Love   Me  Long. 
By   Charles   Reade. 

Lover    or    Friend?     By    Rosa   N, 
Carey. 

Lucile.     By  Owen  Meredith. 

Maid  of  Sker.     By  R.    D.   Black- 
more. 

Makers    of    Florence.      By    Mra 
Oliphant. 

Makers     of     Venice.       By     Mrs 
Oliphant. 

Man   and  Wife.     By   Wilkie  Coi- 
lins. 

Man  in  the  Iron  Mask.     By  Alex- 
andre  Dumas. 

Marquis    of    Lossie.      By    George 
Macdonald. 

Martin   Chuzzlewit.      By   Charles 
Dickens. 

Mary  Anerley.     By  R.   D.  Black- 
more. 

Mary    St.     John.       By    rtosa    N. 
Carey. 

Master   of    Ballantrae.    The.      By 
R.   L.    Stevensor 

Masterman    Readj .      Ey   Captain 
Marryat. 

Meditations   of   Marcus   Aurelius. 
Trans'ated   b/   George   Long. 

Merle's    Crusade.      By    Rosa    N. 

Micah     Clarke.       By     A.     Conan 

Doyle. 
Michael       Strogoff.         By      Jules 

Verne. 

Middlemarch.      By   George   Eliot. 
Midshipman    Easy.      By    Captain 

Marryat. 
Mill    on    the    Floss.      By    Georg* 

Eliot. 

Milton's  Poems.     By    John    Mil- 
ton. 
Mine   Own   People.     By  Rudyard 

Kipling. 

Molly    Bawn.      By     "The     Duch- 
ess." 
Monastery,   The.     By  Sir  Walter 

Scott. 
Moonstone,       The.       By      Wilkie 

Collins. 
Mosses  from  an   Old   Manse.     By 

Nathaniel  Hawthorne. 
Mysterious      Island,       The.       By 

Jules  Verne. 
Natural     Law     in     the     Spiritual 

World.       By     Henry     Drum 

mood. 


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Nellie's  Memories.     By  Rosa  N. 

Carey. 
Newcomer,  The.     By  William  M. 

Thackeray. 
Nicholas    Nlckleby.      By    Charles 

Dickens. 

Ninety-Three.     By  Victor  Hugo. 
No  Name.     By  Wilkie  Collins. 
Not  Like  Other  Girls.     By  Rosa 

N.  Carey. 
Odyssey,    The.      Pope's    Transla- 

tion. 
Old  Curiosity  Shop.     By  Charles 

Dickens. 
Old    Mam'selle's   Secret.      By   E. 

Marlitt. 
Old    Mortality.      By    Sir    Walter 

Scott. 
Old      Myddleton's     Money.        By 

Mary  Cecil  Hay. 
Oliver       Twist.         By       Charles 

Dickens. 

Only  a  Word.     By  George  Ebers. 
Only   the   Governess.       By     Rcsa 

N.  Carey. 
On    the    Heights.      By    Berthold 

Auerbach. 
Origin    of    Species.      By    Charles 

Darwin. 
Other    Worlds    Than    Ours.      By 

Richard  Proctor. 
Our  Bessie      By  Rosa  N.   Carey. 
Our  Mutual  Friend.     By  Charles 

Dickene. 
Pair  of  Bine  Eyes,  A.     By  Thos. 

Hardy. 
Past    and    Present.      By   Thomas 

Carlyle. 
Pathfinder,  The.   By  James  Fenl- 

more  Ct-oper. 
Pendennis.         By      Will'am      M. 

Thackei  Ay. 
Pere     Gor*  t.       By     Honors     de 

Balzac. 
Peveril    of    the    Peak.      By    Sir 

Walter  3cott. 
Fhantom     Hiokshaw      Th».       By 

Rudy?«  d  Kipling. 
Phra,    t)>;   Phoenician.      By   Ed- 

win J>.   Arnold. 
Piccioia.     By  X.   B.   Saintine. 
Plckwic*     Papers.       By     Charles 

DicHens. 
Pilgrim's     Progress.       By     John 

Bunyan. 
Pilot,   The.     By  James  Fenimcre 

Cooper. 
Pioneers,    The.      By  Jame^  Fenl- 

more  Cooper. 
Pirate.     The.       By     Sir     Walter 

Scott. 
Plain  Tales  from   the  Hills.     By 

Rudyard  Kipling. 
Prairie,    The.      By    James    T'eni- 

ir>ore  Cooper. 
Pride    and    Prejudice.      By    Jane 

Austen. 
Prime    Minister,    The.      By    An- 

thony Trollope. 
Prince   of    the    House    of    David. 

By  Rev.  J    H.   Ingraham. 


E. 


the    Moor.      By 

By  Will 


By     Louisa 
By   Rosa   N. 
By  Sir  Wai- 
Sir     Waltei 


Prim  ess    of 
Marlitt. 

Princess  of  Thule,   A. 
iam  Black. 

Professor,    The.       By     Charlotte 
Bronte. 

Prue  and  I.     By  George  William 
Curtis. 

Queen      Hortense. 
Muhlbach. 

Queenie's    Whim. 
Carey. 

Quentin  Durward. 
ter  Scott. 

Redgauntlet.        By 
Scott. 

Red  Rover.     By  James  Fenimore 
Cooper. 

Reign    of    Law.       By    Duke    of 
Argyle. 

Reveries  of  a  Bachelor.     By  DC 
Marvel. 

Rhoda      Fleming.        By     George 
Meredith. 

Rienzl.      By    Bulwer-Lytton. 

Robert     Ord's     Ato«ement.       By 
Rosa  N.  Carey. 

Robinson     Crusoe.        By     Daniel 
Defoe. 

Rob  Roy.     By  Sir  Walter  Scott. 

Romance    of    Two    Worlds.      By 
Marie  Corelli. 

Romola.     By  George  Eliot. 

Rory  O'More.     By  Samuel  Lover. 

Saint  Michael.     By  E.   Werner 

Schonberg-Cotta      Family.         By 
Mrs.     Andrew    Charles. 

Sartor     Resartus.       By     Thomaa 
Carlyle. 

Scarlet     Letter,     The.       By     Na- 
thaniel  Hawthorne. 

Schopenhauer's    Essays.      Trans- 
lated by  T.   B.   Saunders. 

Scottish  Chiefs.     By  Jajie  Porter. 

Scott's    Poems.      By   Sir   Walter 
Scott. 

Search  for  Basil  Lyndhurst.     By 
Rosa  N.  Carey. 

Second  Wife,   The.     By  E.  Mar- 
litt. 

Seekers   After   God.      By   P.    W. 
Farrar. 

Self-Help.     By  Samuel  Smiles. 

Sense  and  Sensibility.     By  Jan* 
Austen. 

Sesame    and    Lilies.       By    John 
Ruskln. 

Seven     Lamps     of     Architecture 
By  John   Ruskin. 

Shadow    of    a   Crime.      By    Hall 
Caine. 

Shadow  of  the  Sword.     By  Rob- 
ert Buchanan. 

Shirley.      By   Charlotte   Bronte. 

Silas  Marner.     By  George  Eliot. 
Silence    of    Dean    Maitland.      By 

Maxwell  Grey. 
Sin     of     Joost     Avellngh.       By 

Maarten  Maartens. 
Sir     Glbble.       By     George     Mao- 
donald. 


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By   Sarah 


Sketch  Book,  The. 

ton   Irving. 
Social    Departure,    A. 

Jeannette   Duncan. 
Soldiers,    Three,    etc.      By    Rud- 

yard    Kipling. 
Son     of     Hagar,     A.       By     Hall 

Caine. 

Springhaven.      By   R,    D.    Black- 
more. 
Spy,    The.      By   James    Fenimore 

Cooper. 
Story   of   an   African   Farm.      By 

Olive   Schreiner. 
Story    of    John    G.    Paton.      Told 

for    Young    Folks.      By    Rev. 

James  Paton. 
Strathmore.     By   "Ouida." 
St.   Ronan's  Well.     By   Sir  Wal- 
ter Scott. 
Study     In     Scarlet,     A.       By     A. 

Conan    Doyle. 
Surgeon's     Daughter,     The.       By 

Sir   Walter   Scott. 
Swiss     Family      Robinson.        By 

Jean   Rudolph  Wyss. 
Tale  of   Two  Cities.     By  Charles 

Dickens. 
Tales     from     Shakespeare.        By 

Charles   and    Mary    Lamb. 
Talisman,    The.      By    Sir    Walter 

Scott. 

Tanglewood      Tales.         By      Na- 
thaniel  Hawthorne. 
Tempest  and  Sunshine.   By  Mary 

J.   Holmes. 
Tempest    Tossed.      By    Theodore 

Tllton. 
Ten   Nights    in    a   Barroom.      By 

T.    S.    Arthur. 
Tennyson's     Poems.       By    Alfred 

Tennyson. 
Ten  Years  Later.     By  Alexandre 

Dumas. 
Terrible      Temptation,      A.        By 

Charles  Reade. 
Thaddeus   of   Warsaw.      By   Jane 

Porter. 

Thelma.     By  Marie  Corelll. 
Thirty    Years'    War.      By    Fred- 
erick  Schiller. 
Thousand  Miles  Up  the  Nile.    By 

Amelia   B.    Edwards. 
Three  Guardsmen.   By  Alexandre 

Dumas. 
Three  Men  in  a  Boat.  By  Jerome 

K.  Jerome. 

Thrift.     By  Samuel  Smiles. 
Toilers    of    the    Sea.      By    Victor 

Hugo. 
Tom      Brown     at     Oxford.        By 

Tiiomas  Hughes. 
Tom   Brown's    School    Days.      By 

Thomas    Hughes. 
Tom     Burke     of      "Ours."        By 

Charles   Lever. 
Tom  Cringle's  Log.     By  Michael 

Scott. 
Tour    of    the    World    in     Eighty 

Days,   A.     By  Jules  Verne 


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Treasure      Island.        By 

Louis   Stevenson. 
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the   Sea.      By   Jules   Verne. 
Twenty   Years   After.      By   Alex- 
andre Dumas. 

Twice     Told      Tales.        By     Na- 
thaniel   Hawthorne. 
Two  Admirals.     By  James  Fenl 

more  Cooper. 
Two  Years  Before  the  Mast.     B> 

R.   H.   Dana,   Jr. 
Uarda.     By  George  Ebers. 
Uncle  Max.     By  Rosa  N.   Carey. 
Uncle  Tom's  Cabin.     By  Harriet 

Beecher  Stowe. 
Undine  and  Other  Tales.     By  De 

La  Motte  Fouque. 
Unity   of   Nature.      By   Duke   of 

Argyle. 

Vanity  Fair.     By  Wm.  M.  Thack- 
eray. 

Vendetta.     By  Marie  Corelll. 
Vicar   of    Wakefield.      By   Oliver 

Goldsmith. 
Vicomte      de      Bragelonne.        By 

Alexander  Dumas. 
Vilette.     By  Charlotte  Bronte. 
Virginians,    The.      By    Wm.    M. 

Thackeray. 
Water  Babies,   The.     By  Charles 

Kingsley. 
Water    Witch,    The.      By    James 

Fenimore  Cooper. 
Waverley.     By  Sir  Walter  Scott. 
Wee  Wifie.      By   Rosa  N.    Carey. 
Westward      Ho!         By      Charlea 

Kingsley. 

We  Two.     By  Edna  Lyall. 
What's  Mine's  Mine.     By  George 

MacDonafd". 
When  a  Man's  Single.     By  J.  M. 

Barrie. 
White    Company,     The.       By    A. 

Conan  Doyle. 

Whlttier's    Poems.      (Early). 
Wide,    Wide    World.      By    Susan 

Warner. 
Widow  Lerouge,   The.     By  Emlle 

Gaboriau. 
Window    in   Thrums.      By   J.    M. 

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imore  Cooper. 
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kie   Collins. 
Won     by     Waiting.      By     Edna 

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Girls.      By     Nathaniel    Haw- 
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Woodstock.   By  Sir  Walter  Scott. 
Wooed    and    Married.      By    Rosa 

N.    Carey. 

Wooing  O't.     By  Mrs.  Alexander. 
World    Went    Very    Well    Then, 

The.      By   Walter   Besant. 
Wormwood.      By    Marie    Corelll. 
W/eck    of    the    Grosvenor,     Thf 

By  W.   Clark   Russell. 
Zenobia.     By  William  Ware. 


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Adventures  of  a  Brownie,  As  Told  to  My  Child. 
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Adventures  in  Toyland.  What  the  Marionette  Told  Molly.  By  EDITH 
KING  HALL.  Illustrated,  cloth,  price  75  cents, 

Alice's  Adventures  in  Wonderland.  By  LEWIS  CARROLL.  With  42  Il- 
lustrations by  John  Tenniel.  Cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Birdie.  A  Tale  of  Child  Life.  By  H.  L.  CHILDE-PEMBERTON.  Illustrated, 
cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Count  Up  the  Sunny  Days.  A  Story  for  Girls.  By  C.  A.  JOXES.  Illus- 
trated, cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Cuckoo  Clock,  The.  By  MRS.  MOLESWORTH.  With  7  Illustrations  by 
Walter  Crane.  Cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Down  the  Snow  Stairs;  or.  From  Good  Night  to  Good  Morning.  By 
ALICE  CORKRAN.  With  60  Illustrations  by  Gordon  Browne.  Price  75c. 

Joan's  Adventures.  At  the  North  Pole  and  Elsewhere.  By  AUCE 
CORKRAN.  Illustrated,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Little  Lame  Prince,  and  His  Traveling  Cloak.  By  Miss  MULOCK.  Illus- 
trated, cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Little  Lucy's  Wonderful  Globe.  By  CHARLOTTE  M.  YONGE.  Illus- 
trated, cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Little  Miss  Joy.    By  EMMA  MARSHALL.    Illustrated,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Little  Miss  Peggy.  Only  a  Nursery  Story.  By  MRS.  MOLESWORTH.  With 
13  Illustrations  by  Walter  Crane.  Cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Little  Princess  of  Tower  Hill.  By  L.  T.  MEADE.  Illustrated,  cloth, 
price  75  cents. 

Little  Rosebud :  or,  Things  Will  Take  a  Turn.  By  BEATRICE  HARRADEN. 
Illustrated,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Little  Sunshine's  Holiday.  A  Picture  from  Life.  By  Miss  MULOCK. 
Illustrated,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Mixed  Pick'es.  A  Story  for  Girls.  By  MRS.  E.  M.  FIELD.  Illustrated, 
cloth,  price  75  cents. 

One  of  a  Covey.  By  the  author  of  "  Honor  Bright."  With  19  Illustra- 
tions by  H.  J.  A.  Miles.  Cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Rosy.  By  MRS.  MOLESWORTH.  With  8  Illustrations  by  Walter  Crane. 
Cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Sue  and  I.    By  MRS.  ROBERT  O'REILLY.    Illustrated,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Sweet  Content.    By  MRS.  MOLESWORTH.    With  20  Illustrations  by  W. 

Rainey.    Cloth,  price  75  cents. 
'.Tapestry  Room,  The.    By  MRS.  MOLESWORTH.    Illustrated,  cloth,  price 

75  cents. 
Through  the  Looking--Glass,  and  What  Alice  Found  There.    By  LEWIS 

CARROLL.  tWith  50  Illustrations  by  John  Tenniel.    Cloth,  price  75  cents. 


THE  CONTINENTAL  SERIES. 


Uniform  Cloth  Binding.    Olivine 
Edges. 

Extra  Illustrated.    Price  .Si. so. 

In  this  series  of  historical  stories  each  one  is 
complete  in  itself,  yet  taken  together  they  form 
one  of  the  most  entertaining  histories  of  the  Revo- 
lution. The  utmost  care  lias  been  exercised  to 
have  them  historically  correct,  and  so  much  of 
romance  as  is  used  to  make  the  tales  surring  is 
subordinated  to  the  facts.  They  have  been  writ- 
ten with  the  distinct  purpose  of  portraying  the 
struggle  for  liberty  in  romantic  form,  and  while 
being  in  the  highest  degree  interesting  stories  for 
the  young,  are  at  the  same  time  especially  in- 
structive, inasmuch  as  the  greatest  possible 
amount  of  information  is  given. 


The  Capture  of  the  Laughing  Mary.  A  Story 
ol  Two  New  York  Boys  in  1776,  as  set  down  by  Eliphalet 
Willett,  and  edited  by  JAMES  OTIS.  With  8  page  illustra- 
tions by  J.  Watson  Davis.  Extra  12mo,  illuminated  cloth, 
olivine  edges,  price  $1.50. 

With  Lafayette  at  Yorktown.  A  Story  of  How 
Two  Boys  Joined  the  Continental  Army.  By  JAMES 
OTIS.  With  8  full  page  illustrations  by  George  E.  Graves. 
Extra  12mo,  illuminated  cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.50. 

With  Warren  at  Bunker  Hill.  A  Story  of  the 
Siege  of  Boston.  How  Ben  Scarlett  Escaped  from  Boston 
Town,  as  set  down  by  his  Comrade,  and  edited  by  JAMES 
OTIS.  With  8  full  page  illustrations  by  J.  Watson  Davis. 
Extra  12mo,  illuminated  cloth,  olivine  edges,,  price  $1.50. 

With  Washington  at  Monmouth.    A  Story  ofi 
Three  Philadelphia  *Boys.     By  JAMKS  OTIS.     With  8  full 
page  illustrations   by   George  E.   Graves.     Extra  12mo, 
illuminated  cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.50. 


THE  LITTLE  MEN 


Uniform  Cloth  Binding.    Profusely 
Illustrated. 

PRICE    75    CENTS    PER    COPY. 

This  series  of  boys'  books  have  been  selected 
from  the  writings  of  a  large  number  of  popular 
authors  of  juvenile  stories,  and  are  particularly 
adapted  to  interest  and  supply  attractive  reading 
for  young  boys.  The  books  are  profusely  illus- 
trated, and  any  one  seeking  to  find  a  book  to  give 
ft  young  boy  cannot  make  a  mistake  by  selecting 
from  the  following  list  of  titles. 


By  ANNA  SEWELL.  Ulus- 
IHustrated,  cloth, 


Black  Beauty.    The  Autobiography  of  a  Horse, 
trated,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Carrots:    Just  a  Little  Boy.    By  MRS.  MOLESWOBTH. 

price  75  cents. 
Chunk,  Fuskey  and  Snout.    A  Story  of  Wild  Pigs  for  Little  People. 

By  GERALD  YOUNG.    Illustrated,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 
Daddy's  Boy.    By  L.  T.  MEADE.    Illustrated,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Flat  Iron  for  a  Farthing:,  A.  The  Story  of  an  Only  Son.  By  JULIANA 
HORATIA  EWING.  Illustrated,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Flock  of  Four.  A.  A  Story  for  Boys  and  Girls.  By  ISMAY  THORN.  Il- 
lustrated, cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Geoff  and  Jim.  A  Story  of  School  Life.  By  ISMAY  THORN.  Illustrated, 
cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Tack:  A  Topsy  Turvy  Story.  By  C.  M.  [CRAWLEY-BOEVEY.  Illustrated, 
cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Jackanapes.  By  JULIANA  HORATIA  EWING.  Illustrated,  cloth,  price  75 
cents. 

Larry's  Luck.  By  the  author  of  "  Miss  Toosey's  Mission,"  "  Tom's  Opin- 
ion." Illustrated,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Little  Ivan's  Hero.  A  Story  of  Child  Life.  By  HELEN  MILMAN.  Illus- 
trated, cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Mopsa  the  Fairy.  A  Fairy  Story  for  Boys.  By  JEAN  INGELOW.  Illus- 
trated, cloth,  price  75  cents. 

My  "Dog  Plato:  His  Adventures  and  Impressions.  By  M.  H.  CORNWALL 
LEGH.  Illustrated,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Peter  the  Pilgrim.  The  Story  of  a  Boy  and  His  Pet  Rabbit.  By  L.  T. 
MEADE.  Illustrated,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Prince  Prigio,  Adventures  of.  By  ANDREW  LANG.  Illustrated,  cloth, 
price  75  cents. 

Robin's  Ride.  A  Story  for  Children.  By  ELLJNOR  D.  ADAMS.  Illustrated, 
cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Squib  and  His  Friends.  A  Story  for  Children.  By  ELLEN  EVERETT 
GREEN.  Illustrated,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Tom's  Opinion.  The  Story  of  a  Boys'  School.  By  the  author  of  "  Miss 
Toosey's  Mission."  Illustrated,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

We  and  the  "World.  A  Story  for  Boys.  By  JULIANA  HORATIA  EWING. 
Illustrated,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 

Wonder  Book,  A:  For  Boys  and  Girls.  Comprising  Stories  of  Classical 
Fables.  By  NATHANIEL  HAWTHORNE.  Illustrated,  cloth,  price  75  cents. 


THE  YALE  SERIES  OF  POETS. 


A  Selection  of  Twenty-five 
Authors  from  the  Most  Cele- 
brated Poets  of  All  Nations. 


EACH  AUTHOR'S  POEMS  COMPLETE 
IN  ONE  VOLUME. 


UNIFORM  CLOTH  BINDING.      PRICE  $1.00 
PER  COPY. 


BROWNING,  R. 

BRYANT. 

BURNS. 

BYRON. 

CHAUCER. 

COLERIDGE. 

DANTE. 

FAUST. 

HOOD. 

ILLIAD. 

INGOLDSBY 

LEGENDS. 
KEATS. 


LIGHT  OF  ASIA. 

LONGFELLOW. 

LUCILE. 

MILTON. 

MOORE. 

ODYSSEY. 

POPE. 

ROSSETTI. 

SHAKESPEARE, 

SHELLEY. 

SWINBURNE. 

TENNYSON. 

WHITTIER. 


Fireside  Series  for  Girls. 

Uniform  Cloth  Binding.    Illustrated. 

A  carefully  selected  series  of  books  for 
girls,  written  by  authors  of  acknowledged 
reputation.  The  stories  are  deeply  interest- 
ing in  themselves,  and  have  a  moral  charm 
that  emanates  from  the  principal  characters; 
they  teach  without  preaching,  are  of  lively 
interest  throughout,  and  will  wm  the  hearts 
of  all  girl  readers. 

Esther.    By  ROSA  NOUCHETTE  CAREY.    Illustrated. 
Price  $1.00. 

A  "World  of  Girls:   The  Story  of  a  School. 
By  L.  T.  MEADE.    Illustrated.    Price  $1.00. 

The  Heir  of  Redclyffe.    By  CHARLOTTE  M.  YONGE.    Illus.    Price  $1.00. 

the  Story  of  a  Short  Life.    By  JULIANA  HORATIA  EWING.    Illustrated. 
Price  $1.00. 

A  Sweet  Girl  Graduate.    By  L.  T.  MEADE.    Illustrated.    Price  $1.00. 

Our  Bessie.    By  ROSA  NOUCHETTE  CAREY.    Illustrated.     Price  $1.00. 

3ix  to  Sixteen:  A  Story  for  Girls.    By  JULIANA  HORATIA  EWINO.    Il- 
lustrated.   Price  $1.00. 

The  Dove  in  the  Eagle's  Nest.    By  CHARLOTTE  M.  YONGE.    Illustrated. 
Price  $1.00. 

Gianetta;  A  Girl's  Story  of  Herself.    By  ROSA  MULHOLLAND.    Illus- 
trated.   Price  $1.00. 

Jan  of  the  Windmill:  A  Story  of  the  Plains.    By  JULIANA  HORATIA 
EWINO.    Illustrated.     Price  $1.00. 

Averil.    By  ROSA  NOUCHETTE  CAREY.    Illustrated.    Price  $1.00. 

Alice  in  Wonderland  and  Alice  Through  the  Looking-Glass.  Two 
volumes  in  one.    By  LEWIS  CARROLL.    Illustrated.    Price  $1.00. 

"Merle's  Crusade.    By  ROSA  NOUCHETTE  CAREY.    Illustrated.    Price  $1.00. 

Girl  Neighbors;  or,  The  Old  Fashion  and  the  New.     By  SARAH 
TYTLER.    Illustrated.    Price  gl.OO. 

Polly:  A  New  Fashioned  Girl.    By  L.  T.  MEADE.    Illus.    Price  $1.00. 

Aunt  Diana.    By  ROSA  N.  CAREY.    Illustrated.    Price  $1.00. 

The  Water  Babies;  A  Fairy  Tale  for  a  Land-Baby.    By  CHARLES 
KINGSLEY.    Illustrated.    Price  $1.00. 

At  the  Back  of  the  North  Wind.    By  GEORGE  MACDONALD.  Illustrated. 
Price  $1.00. 

The  Chaplet  of  Pearls;  or,  The  White  and  Black  Ribaumont.  By 
CHARLOTTE  M.  YONGE.    Illustrated.    Price  $1.00. 

The  Days  of  Bruce:  A  Story  of  Scottish  History.    By  GRACE  AGUI- 
LAR.    Illustrated.    Price  $1.00. 

The  Palace  Beautiful:  A  Story  for  Girls.    By  L.  T.  MEADE.    Illus- 
trated.   Price  $1.00. 

Margery  Merton's  Girlhood.    By  ALICE  CORKRAN.    Illus.    Price  $1.00, 

Three  Bright  Girls:  A  Story  of  Chance  and  Mischance.    By  ANNIE 
E.  ARMSTRONG.    Illustrated.    Price  $1.00. 

Pythia's  Pupils:  The  Story  of  a  School.    By  EVA  HARTNER.    Illus- 
trated.   Price  $1.00. 

The  Lady  of  the  Forest:  A  Story  for  Girls.    By  L.  T.  MEADE.  Illus- 
trated.   Price  $1.00. 

Only  a  Girl:  A  Tale  of  Brittany.    By  C.  A.  JONES.    Illus.    Price  $1.00. 

Honor  Bright;  or,  The  Four-Leaved  Shamrock.    By  the  author  of 

Miss  Toosey's  Mission.    Illustrated.    Price  $1.00. 

Under  False  Colors:  A  Story  from  Two  Girls'  Lives.    By  SARAH 
DOUDNEY.    Illustrated.    Price  $1.00. 


THE  MOTHER  GOOSE   SERIES. 


Handsome  Cloth  Binding, 
Illuminated  Covers. 


A  Series  of  Profusely  Illus- 
trated Books  for  Young 
Children. 


PRICE,  50  CENTS  PER  COPY. 


Aladdin  and  the  Wonderful  Lamp,  and  Other  Stories. 
Profusely  Illustrated.     Price  50  cents. 

Beauty  and  the  Beast,  and  Other  Stories.     Profusely  Illus- 
trated.    Price  50  cents. 

Cinderella;  or,    The  Little  Glass   Slipper,   and  Other 

Stories.     Profusely  Illustrated.     Price  50  cents. 

Jack  and  the  Beanstalk,  and  Other  Stories.    Profusely  Illus- 
trated.    Price  50  cents. 

Jack  the  Giant   Killer,  and  Other  Stories.    Profusely  Illus- 
trated.   Price  50  cents. 

Little  Bed  Riding  Hood,  and  Other  Stories.     Profusely  Illus- 
trated.     Price  50  cents. 

Mother    Goose's    Rhymes.    Profusely  Illustrated.     Price    50 
cents. 

Mother  Hubbard's  Melodies.    Profusely  Illustrated.    Price 
50  cents. 

Puss  in  Boots,  and  Other  Stories.    Profusely  Illustrated.     Price 
50  cents. 

The   Sleeping    Beauty,   and  Other   Storieb.     Profusely  Illufl. 
trated.     Price  50  cents. 


THE  IDEAL  SERIES. 

Books  for  Boys  by  G.  A.  Henty. 


Uniform  Cloth  Binding.    Price  75  Cents. 


"  Mr.  Henty  is  the  King  of  Story  Tellers  for  boys. 
All  boys  will  read  his  stories  with  eager  and  unflag- 
ging interest.  The  episodes  are  all  graphic,  exciting, 
realistic;  in  all  Mr.  Henty 's  books  the  tendency  is 
to  the  formation  of  an  honorable,  manly,  and  even 
heroic  character." 


Bonnie  Prince  Charlie:  A  Tale  of  Fontenoy 
and  Culloden.     By  G.  A.  HENTY.    Price  75  cents. 

In  Times  of  Peril:  A  Tale  of  India,    By  G.  A. 
HENTY.    Price  75  cents. 

With.  Olive  in  India;  or,  The  Beginnings  of 
an  Empire.    By  G.  A.  HENTY.    Price  75  cents. 

The  Dragon  and  the  Raven:  or,  The  Days 
of  King  Alfred.    By  G.  A.  HENTY.    Price  75  cents.  

The  Young  Carthaginian:  A  Story  of  the  Times  of  Hannibal.    By  G.  A. 
HENTY.    Price  75  cents. 

The  Cornet  of  Horse:  A  Tale  of  Marlborough's  Wars.    By  G.  A.  HENTY. 
Price  75  cents. 

"With  Lee  in  Virginia:  A  Story  of  the  American  Civil  War.    By  G.  A 
HENTY.      Price  75  cents. 

By  England's  Aid;  or,  The  Freeing  of  the  Netherlands  (1585-1604).  By  G-  A, 
HENTY.    Price  75  cents. 

The  Boy  Knight:  A  Tale  of  the  Crusades.    By  G.  A.  HENTY.    Price  75 
cents. 

By  Pike  and  Dyke:  A  Tale  of  the  Rise  of  the  Dutch  Republic.     By  G.  A. 
HENTY.    Price  75  cents. 

Captain  Bayley's    Heir:    A  Tale  of  the  Gold  Fields  of  California.    By 
G.  A.  HENTY.    Price  75  cents. 

Under  Drake's  Flag:  A  Tale  of  the  Spanish  M ain.    By  G.  A.  HENTY.    Price 
75  cents. 

In  Freedom's  Cause:  A  Story  of  Wallace  and  Bruce.    By  G.  A.  HENTY. 
Price  75  cents. 

In  the  Reign  of  Terror:  The  Adventures  of  a  Westminster  Boy.    By  G.  A. 
HENTY.    Price  75  cents. 

True  to  the  Old  Flag:  A  Tale  of  the  American  War  of  Independence.    By 
G.  A.  HENTY.    Price  75  cents. 

With  Wolfe  in  Canada;  or,  The  Winning  of  a  Continent.  By  G.  A.  HENTY. 
Price  75  cents. 

The  Young  Buglers:  A  Tale  of  the  Peninsular  War.    By  G.  A.  HENTY. 
Price  75  cents. 

By  Right  of  Conquest;  or,  With   Cortez  in  Mexico.    By  G.  A.  HENTY 
Price  75  cents. 

St.  George  for  England:  A  Taie  of  Cressy  and  Poitiers.    By  G.  A.  HENTY, 
Price  75  cents. 

The  Bravest  of  the  Brave:  With  Peterborough  in  Spain.    By  G.  A.  HENTY. 
Price  75  cents. 

For  Name  and  Fame;  or,  Through  Afghan  Passes.    By  G.  A.  HENTY. 
Price  75  cents. 

The  Young  Colonists:  A  Story  of  Life  and  War  in  South  Africa.    By  G.  A. 
HENTY.    Price  75  cents. 

The  Lion  of  St.  Mark:  A  Story  of  Venice  in  the  Fourteenth  Century.    By 
G.  A.  HENTY.    Price  75  cents. 

Through  the  Fray:  A  Story  of  the  Luddite  Riots.    By  G.  A.  HENTY.    Price 
75  cents. 

Orange  and  Green:  A  Tale  of  the  Boyne  and  Limerick.    By  G.  A.  HENTY. 
Price  75  cents. 


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